It hardly seems that Buster could grow so fast but he has. In 7 short days he has grown so much!
Bonus! Buster has not been an escapee as of this blog writing. He has been easy to catch so far also. He should be banded this weekend. At least that is on my list of to do's. On the 16th I took an early morning walk and to my delight I found the maidenhair fern just curling up out of the moss in the rocks.
The photo to the left was taken on the 16th and the photo on the right was taken on the 18th. The ferns are really trying to take off! Again these below were taken on the 16th.
Same ones on the 18th.
I should have thought ahead and tried to get the same exact angle but alas this is the first time I've tried a comparison photo. I doubt I can get the same angle every time. However tomorrow morning I hope to try and see what another two days along with some light rain has done. Yesterday I thought I'd take a drive down to Tainter Hollow and take a look around at Tainter Creek and the DNR land that is located there. It is a very unique piece of public land. The valley is very steep with a beautiful trout stream that runs through it. However if there is a heavy rain, Tainter Road always suffers washouts and sometimes closures.
The above photo is Tainter Hollow Rd after a 6 inch rain in 2014. When I pulled into the little turn around I stopped the Jeep and literally jumped out. I saw Virginia Bluebells, Wood Anenomes, Trout Lilys, and Dutchman's Breeches. All are ephemeral flowers. Ephemeral means short lived. In other words, you have to keep an eye out for them in the Spring because they blossom then are done. I've never been to Tainter Creek at the exact right time before to see the expanse of these flowers until yesterday. I was totally floored and in awe. Trout Lily:
Virginia Bluebells on the left Wood Anenomes on the right:
A sea of Anenomes:
Dutchman's Breeches:
When I got home from Tainter, I called my new neighbor and told her about all of the wild flowers I'd found. She asked if I'd show her where they were and if we could do it when she got home from picking up her kids from school. I guess my enthusiasm was evident in my voice and did take them to Tainter Hollow. The children got to see a Great Blue Heron fly right over us, they got to explore and find beaver dams, and we even saw a pair of Canada Geese. I was so happy to share this place that rarely gets visitors. I hope to get to Tainter again this weekend to see if I can catch the bluebells and the Trout Lily fully open before they do their magical disappearing act.
Sunday morning the farrier, Dan Tesar and Danny Tesar from Tesar Horseshoeing Company, came out to trim 8 head of equine.
Both Dan and Danny work together here they are trimming our Jack Stud, Bob who stands as a statue. Danny is in the maroon colored sweatshirt, Dan is in the green one. I really dig their sweatshirts. I should have one and add the words...."I like my Farriers!"
Thor our other Jack put on quite a show for Dan and Danny. He is a very odd Jack. After they left I took Lil' Richard for a ride to see how much he remembered. He is the first equine I've ever had that did not want to return home. He was all for the go go go, anywhere but back to the farm. However he was polite and stopped for the neighbor kids and let them pet him. Allie helped Lil' Richard check the mail.
Now Lil' Richard is a small pony so we don't ride hard, we don't ride fast, and I get off and walk with him often. However I found him very useful while walking along the roadside to spot interesting plants.
It is so hard to get used to those tiny little ears that are mostly hidden by that incredible bushy pony mane of his.
On our way back down the hill to the farm, I found a Santa Hat that had blown into the woods. Lil' Richard was more than happy to model it for me. Apparently my neighbor thinks Lil' Richard should have it as she says, "It suits him." I think it does. Monday morning arrived and I walked up the hill to check on Valerie, who is one of our Dexter cows. I thought she was close to calving. Rich said she was a ways off. Hah!
Welcome Buster! Born on Rich's Birthday! He still has milk bubbles on his lips from his first feeding. I was concerned because the temps were only in the 20's and Buster was a bit cold, but in an hour he was running around the pasture driving his mom nuts. I spent most of the day relocating perennials and dividing them from places that will be effected by the construction. Our Contractor showed up with the Digger Man and it sounded like they were getting ready to break ground very very soon. After they left, I grabbed Siera and put on her headstall. I led her to a stump and she stood stock still while I climbed up the stump and put a leg over her. Off we went for a quick ride. We went for a cruise in the woods just for fun.
She has either gotten over her 'March Madness' and being herd sour or she thought that bareback was more fun? Anyway we went to look at the fence in the Merry Meadow and see where the deer had broken the old electric lines. Looks like some fencing work for me soon!
We then rode back to the 'farm' and checked on Buster who was sleeping soundly next to his mom, Valerie.
I had left a message with the neighbors to come down and see the new calf since they'd never seen one like this before. It was time to put Siera back and get ready for company. Since it was Rich's birthday, I made a family sized pan of brownies and after the calf viewing and playing on the dirt hill, we all went in for a treat. It was a great couple of days. What will today bring?
