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!

Destinations...

My neighbor to the west of us came over yesterday to see about cutting down the pasture/weeds that have overgrown the area in front of the house. This is also one of the only flat-ish areas we have on our land.

Gary came over with his brand new tractor and my jaw hit the driveway gravel when I saw it. What a nice machine he finally got himself. A/C, Heat, and every other nice thing you could want in any vehicle.
He has a skid steer, a bulldozer, and cool attachments for his skid steer which is huge!

He made short work of my weeds and said the 6 ft burdock plants bogged his machine down. Imagine. I thought I could go out there with a machete and cut them. Huh. Guess I was kidding myself.

The mules are finding more grasses and browsing on the cut up plants. They don't seem particularly hungry which means they are finding good stuff all over the place.

Gary then thought he'd mess around a bit in the back side or the other meadow. He brush hogged all the multiflora rose bushes I'd been fighting for years against. He made very short work of the thistle patches. 

 When he was finished, he stopped by the house and visited with Rich for a little bit. 

I'd told Gary I'd pay him and handed him the $$$ for the current going rate for brush hogging. He peeked at the cash and then started to refuse and I said, "Please take it. Running a tractor like that costs fuel and your time. Plus, do something nice ... like take Kim out to dinner."

He looked sheepish as he pocketed the money. Rich concurred. Gary then said he was going to repair our common fence on the west side. He was going to get some cattle again to keep down the brush and grasses in his acreage. He told us that now that Kim was retired, she liked to walk on their land.  Without cattle for the past 4 years, the brush and undergrowth has gotten out of hand.

His comment was: I caught hell for her not being able to hike around and look for sheds because the woods are full of crap now that we don't have cattle.

I offered to help with the fencing. We are supposed to split the cost when doing common fences between neighbors. 

Seeing as that the fence hasn't been fixed well in over 30 years, it was really time. I can help with sharing the costs, but not much in chain sawing and stringing fence as I have to be close to the house.

Today, Wednesday, is supposed to be a fishing day, but the guy I hired last year to take down 6 trees texted me last night to come out and give me an estimate on some other work I'd like done to the yard. 

He has free time to do estimates on rainy days. I do like working with him. He is young, curteous, and does good work. AND he keeps in contact with me even when he is busy and can't get out to see me right away.

 I am also hoping to have some kind of excavating --> brush cleaning to a difficult part of the 'forest' that the gals like to hang out in. I'm going to change fencing to a more limited area. After all, I only have 3 equine left and they can't keep up with all of the growth. I can build the fence, but need an area cleared to do it.

The end game is to make this place look much nicer so it doesn't look  neglected by a couple of old fools. 

When, in the future, I am ready to move off the farm, I want it the farm to look  like a charming place instead of weedy overgrown pastures and piles of 'good' junk stuff.

I'm starting now, because in a few years, I will probably move to an area where I can get public transport, groceries delivered, access to bike trails, parks, and health care close by. I realize that I eventually won't do well in a such a remote place.

I will miss my starry nights and forest trails. But I'm sure I can find happiness in just about any place I choose to live.

The conundrum is this. If I get this little farm looking exactly how I imagine it should be, then I will I leave?

Life is a process isn't it?

Uffdah. It is almost that time of year again.

That time of year when I am banned from the woods for 9 days total. As the little video shows above, the bucks are pretty silly with the rut season. This guy is a hoot and loves to stare right into the camera.

I've had a camera in this spot of my woods now for nearly 6 years. Over the years, I've spotted every creature we have in the forest using the trail near this camera. Coyotes, Bobcats, Turkeys, Racoon, Possum, and of course deer. The deer like to nap in this spot also. 

They don't seem to mind the camera at all.

Over the years, I've gotten some rather amusing photos.

I am not opposed to deer hunting at all. Their herds do need to be culled. On my morning walks now, I generally 'jump' up a herd of 6 to 10 does by just walking up my driveway. Farmers see them as pests, motorists see them as hazards. Insurance companies see them as headaches.

And then? I love to watch them. I love to photograph them. 

What a conundrum. I have a love/hate relationship with them don't I? 

Yesterday, revamped the fencing in area where I keep the equine during gun season. It is close to the house and we can keep a close eye on them.

Sundance is always curious no matter what I am doing. Yesterday she followed me around the winter pasture while I pulled t-posts and straightened them before the ground froze. 

What better time than the present to fix it?

Did you know that mules like pumpkins?

They do. Each year I've tossed my pumpkins before they rot into this pen. Immediately, it draws the girls in.
They demolish the pumpkin and tromp the seeds into the ground. Come spring, they have planted and fertilized my new pumpkin patch.

After I did winter repairs and set up the water tank heater, I headed up the lane to the meadow out back. Something, probably that large buck had torn hot wire down and busted six insulators. Ahhh, rut season, how do we love you???

I fixed everything and put the wire back up. 

In the valley, I often have to replace a lot of insulators in the spring. I don't keep the fence hot in the valley during the winter as the mules don't have access to that area.

I wonder how many more times I'll have to fix fence up in the lane this winter?

So this is the time of the year where I drag out a Lego build for the 9 day gun season which includes Thanksgiving.

This year we will be constructing the Medieval Village. 

Since we don't do anything for Thanksgiving [I make lasagna and we have pie]. I like to pick a project that I can do with hubby. I've found that hubby loves sorting pieces for me by color. He does look at the instruction booklet and sometimes he can catch mistakes I make.

Last year, we completed our Christmas Village. I'll take that out of the Hutch some time in December to decorate things for Christmas.

In the mean time, I have a few things left to do outside and in the forest before the hunters come on each side of us and begin the season of gun hunting.

Our property is 500 feet wide and 1/2 mile long. So the reason I don't dare go out is because our place is too narrow to escape stray shots. And believe me, on opening day I spend as little time outside as possible.

However, hubby used to be our hunter and he would always get one or two for us to supplement our table in years past. I'll never forget helping him put up a last minute deer stand the evening before the 2010 deer season. Link below....👇

A Hateful Woman or Stupid Man invented the Deer Stand

Goat, Pony, Fence, Dew, Mules

That about sums it up.

Sven got a new lot and I put Mr. Pony Baloney...Lil Richard in with him as an experiment. Lil Richard used to be an escape artist but I've found that putting him an electric fence with a third line keeps him from going under the fence.
Likewise, I had so much trouble keeping Sven in any mule fence. He would just duck under the hot wire.

I can't mow this section because it is a hill and it is littered with huge rocks. I needed to be cautious and not cause erosion so Lil Richard will make visits and Sven will have the run of the area in the summer.
He is a grazing animal and has suddenly become infatuated with the pony.

However, he is also respecting the fence. The only time Sven got out was when he and Lil Richard were playing 'tag'. Since then it has been very peaceful. I'm happy I can have Sven earn his keep!

I fenced in this section of the 'yard'. It is a pain to mow. And it was used for hay storage for round bales for years. It also is a place for Mystical Things that Hubby keeps that are stored and forgotten. Like the Tractor he had and parked next to the fence in 2015. I didn't fence in his mom's car, the old tractor or the manure spreader [that has become part of the landscape]. There is still room to use Lil Richard to keep down the grasses around them.

But now the mules can eat the good stuff out of this area and I can run the mower over the weeds to keep it tidy.

Yesterday morning was one of those incredible misty mornings we often get in the 'Driftless' Region of Wisconsin.
The early morning is absolutely incredible.

It is time to trim up these mules and get back to riding now that all the Spring Fence work is done.

The fog and the dew was rather incredible. I do love early mornings!

Today it is overcast but it is supposed to be warm. Rich mowed yard yesterday. The first time he has felt good enough in 3 years to actually mow!

Today I'm taking a break with my Hiking Buddy, Bill. I'm going to show him Black Hawk Rock.

So.
Even with the Covid-19 threat, our CrossFit Coach has come up with a plan that I can modify work outs and do them at home with items I have here.
I'll write about that later.
Right now I have to go work out and report back to my Coach.
Just call me happy!
I'm back at it.

The only draw back is I don't have the music they played in the gym.

All work and no Play?

This should be a day for me to rest up for the coming week...

But...
There is always a but...

I think I am done with the 4 wheeler for a while now. The fence is connected and tested. I will release the mules into the forest later today...this afternoon so I can walk down with them and see how they react. They should be just fine.

I have learned quite a bit about fencing and electric fences from this project. I won't bore you with the details however it can be a challenge to get it to shock properly. As of right now a very minimal pulsing current is enough to keep my mules in. They don't even touch it.
The cattle respect it also.

I did find out that if we enter a very dry spell that the grounds get weak and the fence drops in its effectiveness. We are in that very dry spell, so I did some research and used a sprinkler to dampen the earth by the ground spikes.

Okay, that was pretty boring. But testing this morning shows my fence power is back to normal!

Last note.

When Charlie begins to disappear in the grass, it is time to mow.
I mowed yesterday and finished all but the weed whacking in 2.5 hrs.

I tried some motivation for Rich to get up and get off the farm today to go with me to see some kids and their fair pigs. I have a memory stick of photographs from last weekend's softball game to drop off to our 'hay' man and his family.

No such luck. Rich will generally jump at any opportunity to go and visit with Ed and his family.

There's always some reason

To feel not good enough

And, its hard at the end of the day

~~Sarah McLachlan

In the Arms of an Angel

Have a good Sunday. Charlie and I just got back from watching the sun come up on the ridge. The fog is pouring into our hollow now bathed in golden light.

I think I'll go start our chores.

Spring Work includes

The dogs of course.

Dixie assisted with cleaning around the fences and checking them. It was hot and she spent most of the time with her tongue hanging out watching me. She has a great respect for electric lines.
Even if they were not on.

There were a few messes to clean up, most of it could be taken care of with branch loppers and my handy little machete.
I'm going to redo the fencing.
One Electric fencer is doing most of the work.

There is a second fencer that was used for the Merry Meadow, but we won't be doing that any more. I will use that fencer to charge what I will call the 'above the creek' woods and the back meadow.

It was time to water the stock tanks when I got back from the woods.
I had helpers.

My black and tan dogs supervised while I watered.
I gathered up two rakes and a shovel and began to do spring clean up on the driveway.
Again, I had supervisors.

I needed a break and joined the dogs on the grass.
Instant Dog Pile.

I worked until my arthritic hands protested and then decided to go sit on the porch for a bit.
My supervisors had a different idea.

I should play ball.

And our day was complete.
Well, after they helped with evening chores....

This and That

What a welcome surprise. Nice unusual weather.
Dry and warm.
The National Weather Service has issued advisories however that this warm dry spell has increased our fire danger.

However we are taking full advantage of it.

Last minute fence repairs before mother nature blasts us with subzero temperatures and snow.

Moving the round bale feeders.
I do love a guy who can operate a skid steer!

Morris supervised from the porch. He had been sleeping on the blanket I gave him but decided to start barking at everything. I brought out his crate and he went in it.
His imagined monsters can't get him in the crate.
He settled down and napped when he wasn't watching.

Rich and I pulled fencing from the Merry Meadow. The work to maintain the fencing is now too large of a job. Mowing the meadow wasn't done this year and since it isn't our land I'm willing to just let it grow wild again.
It served a good purpose for years, however the more things stay...the same, the more they change.

We met with Rich's speech therapist again yesterday. She gave us some insights to the 'new' Normal. I do not like that phrase Your New Normal, but it is appropriate.
COPD affects so many things. She enlightened us to the fact that the brain uses 20% of the oxygen in the body. When short of breath from exertion, the brain is getting shorted also. An already damaged brain from a stroke is fighting harder to get its oxygen.
Confusion and memory issues immediately arise.
If left short of that wonderful 02, more brain damage can result.

It helps me understand what is happening to Rich when he is trying so hard to do chores. He is not a quitter. But it helps me understand why he feels lost when he is out of breath.
COPD is an insidious disease that forgives no one. You cannot escape it and as it slowly eats away at your health.

Our new thoughts to take home from Speech Therapy are these two things:
I am Rich, I am "As Is."
The more things stay the same, the more they change.
[Yes that is the exact opposite of the saying, but this fits better in our case.]

So.
It seems that some or most of the work will fall into my hands for getting everything ready for winter.
I'm up to most of the task.

The Dexters we are keeping will move into the paddock just south of the house where they can share a 300 gallon heated stock tank of water with the equine who will be in their winter pasture also.
One heated tank. One hose to fill it. The chores will become much more manageable through the cold.

Mr. Morris seems to be doing fair. Yesterday the neighbor and her son came to let him out for a potty break and drink of water. Morris apparently didn't 'see' the porch post until he ran into it. He has done this off and on lately. I don't know if he really has doggy dementia or what. I do know that his hearing is negligible and that his eyesight seems at times to be a bit questionable.

However, all of this and that aside, we are having an incredible end to November.
The skies have delighted us with morning and evening surprises of brilliant colors.

And thus, another month ends.
Tomorrow is December.

Morning Lights

Well first there was a pretty nice sunset last night.
It seems that it has been forever since we had sunlight!

This morning it was chilly but I walked out the the Merry Meadow to watch the sun come through the trees and shine down into our little valley.

I was pretty surprised at the amount of moisture in the air and the heavy dew.

I shouldn't have been. It was warm yesterday and the temps cooled off overnight. The morning sun quickly burned off the haze over the forest.

I love it when the trees just start to get their leaves. My husband says it is like fall in the reverse.

And the sun broke through the forest. As you can see, the undergrowth has really spurted up with all the rain we've had. Trimming along the electric fence in the Meadow will be quite the job this year.

The wild apple and cherry trees are starting to bloom. These are very old trees so instead of the wonderful blossoms we used to have years ago where the whole meadow was adorned with flowers...just a few trees have partial areas of blossoms.

The dew was quite heavy as I said and lent a wild reflection of light on all the grasses.

The Yellow Rocket seem to be doing just fine.

Update on 15. Well, she isn't as 'ready to ride' as she was presented to be, but that is no surprise and we always start a new animal out with the basics anyway.

Yesterday afternoon I took time off from other work and worked the curry comb and the shedding blade on the riding mules.

It looked as though someone had shaved a multitude of colored mules!

Today's work?
Fencing the forest pasture for the Dexters.

I do have my work cut out for me!