Afternoon exploring

Monday turned out to be very nice. 
In the late afternoon, I gathered the pups and took them out to search for any sign of spring.

Skunk Cabbage!
One of the very first flowers of spring. The plant does smell when disturbed but that is how it gets pollinated by insects.

The plant is found in land near streams and rivers.

The flower looks like this:

What really surprised me was that a few Hepatica showed up here and there along the trail I followed. Most of them were near some of the ice caves I've explored this winter.

We found a lot of these flowers along the Wintergreen Trial.

The dogs had a lot of leftover energy so we hiked around the the blind that is set up for watching birds on the ponds.

Our pleasant surprise was that a pair of Swans that returned. I don't know if they are the very same ones from other years, but for the past 4 years, I've found them in late March at this pond.

The dogs were so good. Both sat quietly with me behind the blind while I watched birds for about 30 minutes. It felt so peaceful to not have a time line.

Hannah's face...it doesn't have a white strip in it, that was a ray of sunlight coming through the blind.

Bird Blind:

Interesting finds in the trunk

of my MIL's car. 

Most of the stuff was junk and Romance Novels. However, I picked up a hardbound book and took it inside the house to look at later.

Was I ever surprised!

I actually opened it up and started reading it in the middle of the book because I recall seeing the movie as a kid. [The 1959 version]

Then I decided to look inside the front cover.

It had the most beautiful hand writing I've ever seen, the book was given as a gift on January 1st 1888 to Miss Emilie.

That peaked my interest. In 1880 it was entered into the Library of Congress.

So I checked the back of the book and saw the list of books for sale from Harper's and Brothers with prices.

I know understand why my hubby always insisted that I go clean out the trunk. Well, I did score a couple of treasures. [maybe]

I'm not sure they are worth anything.

The other treasure I was handed from the guys was this a Campbell Soup shaker:

I cleaned it up and wished that I'd checked to see if the mate was in her trunk too. Oddly enough, it was full of Pepper and it smelled good. [I dumped it]

However, now I have a couple more things to add to my oddities for Still Life Photography.

I may get a less fragile copy of the book from the Library and read it. 

Sunny Sunday

I wanted to look for skunk cabbage as I've seen Leeks coming up in other areas so I chose a trail that has a couple of wetland areas to look for them. The North Hay Valley Trail is one of the more hilly trails on the Reserve. After climbing up two ridges, we went down into this little valley.

I let the dogs roam around with me looking for signs of plants with no luck. However I did jump back and forth across the stream and called Hannah. She complied and after about 4 jumps, I got a shot of her leaping in midair.

According to a puppy every leaf and stick deserves her full attention. It is hard to see here but she has a mouthful of oak leaves.

She is almost as tall as Charlie now and almost as long as his Dachshund body is. However she is built so daintily compared to his huge chest and muscular build.

The line attached to her is to step on or grab if she is getting into trouble. I'm also using it as a leash. It is parachute cord and very lightweight. 

I've used this method since the 1980's. 

Charlie jumps up on a log to avoid Hannah. However Hannah will probably develop some amazing jumping skills herself. 

We were going to turn around and hike back to the car from this point, but it would almost be equidistant to do the entire loop.

So we forged onward.

I did give Charlie a carry for a while to give him a rest as at one point he seemed almost too warm. He recovered well after getting a huge drink of water from me.

Hannah got a lift too for a while. She is still a pup and growing. She didn't want to get carried at all. Goofy girl.

This may be the only structure left in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. I almost wish someone would clean all the debris off from it. This section of trail is pretty rough with down branches and deep ruts. I've been inside of it and admired the handywork of those who laid the stone building.

Towards the end of the trail, I came up on a perfect spot for some toy photography. Hannah nosed things down a couple of times before she learned that the toys were not food and she was supposed to 'leave it'.

Wall-E and Eve wish you a good Monday.

Distance: Just under 5 miles with lots of rest stops for the dogs.

March Madness

Friday:

Rebuilding, part of a daily work out.
The gates in the foreground were for bringing animals in and out of the pasture. I removed the pen, posts, and wire. The foreground in this shot will be returned to a grassy area now that I have only three mules.
 

I just have the one heavy gate and the white posts to remove now and wait for Frank to come with his dozer and level everything out. I still need the 'catch' pen to remove one mule at a time for trimming or riding. If I halter one animal, the rest want to join in.

So I moved the panels and made a new and nicer pen than the old one. The gals all fit comfortably in it. If I open the pasture side gate, they all just walk in. It is a nice place to groom them and put them back out in their pasture.

I'm hoping for some nice weather without the high winds to take out Siera and Sunshine and saddle them up for a spin in the field next to them. The farrier will be out in a week or so to do their trims and I'll be doing their spring haircuts.

Saturday:

On to the old Buick LeSabre Saga. Among other things.

The Junker Dudes showed up early. I had to get after them as they'd used my yard with the leach field in it to turn around. This after I'd cautioned them not to a few days ago.

I guess I'll put up posts with Crime Scene Tape to remind them.

In the meantime, the guys that purchased the old Buick showed up. I couldn't have asked for more polite young men. They jacked the car up, replaced the tires and opened up the trunk.

The trunk contained....drum roll....Romance Novels, crutches, umbrella, and nothing of any worth. The guys said they'd take the old tires and dispose of them along with the junk in the trunk.

They just about got the old car on the trailer when....

something broke and the car went freewheeling down the hill into the forest. There was a lot of shouting and one of them jumped in the vehicle and stopped it before it went into the trees.

These guys are also friends with Frank who plows, so I suggested that they call Frank and ask permission to use the Skid Steer. Frank agreed.

The LeSabre was loaded safely with a slightly damaged bumper and I earned some cash. They promised to send me photos of the modifications they did to the car.

The guys then thought they'd take a gander at the old Toyota Truck in the shed. The guy in the dark sweatshirt above saw it and whistled. "It's one of those barn finds! This is a diamond!" The boys checked out the engine and clean interior. 

Junker Don came in and said he'd offer me $100 for it. He knew a guy.

The boys looked at him like he was from another planet.

Junker Don went back to loading his trailer. The boys told me that this Classic Car was worth from $2K to $5K. I told them to get back to me with a buyer and we shook.

When I walked out, Junker Don said, "I thought that truck would go with the rest of the scrap." 

I said, "Sure it could. If anyone wants to bid over $5 thousand for it."

Junker Don then looked like he was going to argue. He must have seen my face because he started asking if I'd give him the Skill Saw, the Drill Press...

I saw where this was going and replied. "You are here for the scrap. The power tools and all tools stay, that is what we agreed on."

He did a big sigh and a shrug as if I'd hurt his feelings.

Guess what. I finally was able to get the big shed door closed and locked. I guess I have to be here now to keep an eye on the scrappers.

Closed and locked. First time I've been able to do that in 10 years. 

The money is in the vehicle and the power tools and I'm going to keep an eye on that and insist on being here when the scrappers come again.

All of that before 10:30 in the morning. 

Life on the farm can get hectic.

I spent the afternoon with a girlfriend and her family. We went hiking and enjoyed each others company. The temps were cold but in the valley it was pleasant.

That is the end of my Wild Saturday! I think I earned a beer!

Progression and work.

 First a shot of the pile of 'scrap' as it progresses with the old scrap Dude Don and his brother.

14th of March, my son, Jeremie,  is working on cleaning up in front of the crushed garage.

The 24th of March. Not a huge difference, but the two riding mowers that were buried in the weeds were moved out next to where I park. I asked Don what did he intended to do with them. I was afraid the mowers would be left there in my way.

He'll be back Saturday with his trailer and winch. The mowers will finally find their way to Mower Heaven. 

In June of 2013 we had a huge rainfall with extreme winds that dropped trees on our garage. Our

vehicles were not damaged. 
But the garage was.
The cars were not parked in the garage

at that time.

Rich got sick the next year, so
we never got around to fixing things.

This is the part of the winter 'pasture' and a small pen we used for the special needs equine we raised that needed special daily care and that was close enough to the house that we could walk out and take care of them. Eventually that part of the yard became part of the pasture.

I've decided to return it to yard this year so I started pulling all the t-posts and collecting the hot wire. 

I finally did get that one fence post in the photo pulled after some more heaving and pushing.

I pulled and moved 25 t-posts. 

The view out the window in the future will show a mowed yard where the yellow is and further out will be a field. I plan on riding in the field. 

The equipment that is to the left of this photo will be sold at auction. Two manure spreaders, two trailers, a tractor and other 'good' stuff that had become part of our landscape.

I'll fence the meadow back in after the bulldozer has done its work and I've seeded it down. Over the summer, it will be brush hogged to keep the weeds down. I don't want to use it as pasture for a long time. With only 3 mules, I don't need as much pasture.

The big shed looks like a disaster area at the moment, but sort of an organized disaster. Don and his brother are quickly sorting, the good, the bad, the ugly. I keep the ugly. Like old tarps, nasty old cardboard boxes, broken plastic pails, and other such wonderful things. 

All of the tools stay along with all of the wood working tables, welders, and other things that will go well at an auction. 

I am simply amazed at how well these guys work. I will spend Sunday tagging things around the other shed that I don't wish them to take. There is a nice chain link kennel that I will save along with a few other things. 

Once they go in the busted old garage, I can have Frank come an demolish it.

Below is a photo of part of the north end of the summer meadow. Pat--the guy who will do Forest Mulching will clear this section for both the mules and I. 

When the mules are rotated out of this area, the pups and I will be practicing camp outs. Years ago hubby had a deer stand in that mess. 

I've climbed into it and love the view. Pat will clear out all the briars and brush around it so I can sit above the forest and watch the day break.

I've yearned to do all of this work for many years. Rich always felt he could get back at it. 

His scrap stuff was his baby. He used to do scrap work and earn money. He also used the scrap to create things that we needed around the farm. His talent in welding was known far and wide.

This 'stuff' was his, he couldn't part with it even when he was sick and dying. I honored him by not nagging [too much] about getting rid of the 'stuff'. I almost feel guilty about sending his 'stuff' off with Don and his brother.

The pen in front of the house will be returned to yard with a flower garden to attract bees, birds, and butterflies.

On Wednesday afternoon, I did take some time out for myself. Charlie is always under the weather for a few days after his Distemper shot. Hannah had a booster, so the two of us took a late afternoon hike at the Reserve. We visited the ponds and listened to thousands of Peepers!

We saw some turtles and watched some Canada Geese.

Hannah and I met some bird watchers. We talked about puppies, turtles, geese, swans, and beavers. Then we continued on our little walk.

Hannah had her first solo hike without Charlie and led the way.

I let Hannah trace our steps back and she did an excellent job at it. She retraced our trail almost step by step until we got to the Visitor's Center.

I cannot believe how much work I've been able to get done this month. I had figured it would take me years to accomplish anything noticeable.

But

I know a guy

is working.

The Tour and Vet Visit

So my girlfriend asked me if I'd ever been to the Amish Walmart and I said no. So after CrossFit I jumped in her car and we took off.

We took one back road after another after another on to narrow twisted roads and eventually ended up at this huge ridgetop building. 

In the areas around the building was yards of farm things. Hay feeders, fencing, gates, chains, tubs, planting pots, and more things than I could even identify.

Inside the store were rows of all sorts of tools mixed up with leather works, reins, bridles, walking sticks, and cookware. Kitchen stuff filled one isle. Nothing fancy and colorful but all useful items for any country kitchen.

Out back there were old fashioned blocks and tackle, used bricks, glass bricks, chicken feeders, and more mindboggling things that I couldn't identify.

I did find a few things I wanted. Homemade chocolate bars with mint inside. Yum. Amish Candy is really tasty. I also purchased a pack Gingerbread Cookies.

My friend then took me to the Amish bulk food store on another back road. Bulk flour, all sorts of it. Gluten flour, bulk seasonings, noodles, and anything you might want to cook with. I don't do bulk or cook from scratch, but I did find some homemade sesame chips. I think in the summer time, this store has fresh veggies from different farms so that is worth noting.

And we were not done yet. Our last stop was at the Bent and Dent Amish Store. I picked up some breakfast cereal for .85 cents, some mayo for $1, and a few other things. The store probably doesn't have the same stuff all of the time. I saw some bruised boxes but mostly things were not bent and dented. Surprisingly, this store was quite busy with mostly older people. I could see why. 

None of these places are advertised at all. It is another one of those rural things. Word of mouth and directions on how to get there.

When I got home I'd seen that the scrapper guys had been by again. I will have to ask them not to leave things in the middle of the shed when they are done for the day as I use that area bring out hay. 

They'd pulled two dead mowers out into the yard so I'll have to ask what is up with that. Are they taking them or planning on leaving them in my way.

I had to get the dogs ready to see the vet. Charlie had his annual visit and Distemper shot. Hannah need to start her boosters.

Thankfully, my vet is not owned by a corporation. Her prices are actually reasonable. 

Charlie knew what was coming. He shook and vibrated. The vet was so sweet in getting him to relax while she examined him. He did take treats from her after it was all over.

Dr. Grimm [she is not grim, she is super sweet!] examined Hannah and feels that she has a Dachshund in her background somewhere. She said Rat Terrier's didn't have such long toplines. Someone suggested doing a doggie DNA. I'm happy knowing she is Terrier and something else. Good enough for me.

I don't think I need to spend $$$ on finding out that my dog is a mutt.

Photo below is of the two of them both occupying my lap while waiting for the vet in the exam room.  

Ahhh! The funniest part was when they took Charlie for a nail trim. I do try to do them at home and do somewhat of a good job, but they do much better.

Charlie is a howler when getting his nails trimmed. He screams and howls as if being murdered. Apparently he lays on the table, wags his tail and screams bloody murder. 

I heard the receptionist on the phone explain to a client that all the racket was just a due to a dog that was a bit dramatic and vocal about getting his nails trimmed.

We were all exhausted when we got home. 

What a day.

Hannah goes back for another booster in 3 weeks and will get scheduled to be spayed in June. Dr. Grimm waits for that age for full development of the parts that need to be surgically removed. 

What a busy week. And it was only Tuesday!