MORE "DRAMA IN REAL LIFE"

I had been out running errands and it was H-O-T out there.  What a relief to come inside, put away the groceries and sit down with some iced tea and a new art book!  Ahhhhhhhh, the tea was delish with just the right amount of ice and lemon, the book was going to be delightful and I was ready to sit for an hour before I had to start dinner.  When . . . . . the phone rang. 

It was my husband.  Wonder what he needs? . . . .

Me:  “Hello”

Him:  “If you want to get some good pictures for your blog look outside – I just tipped the tractor into the lake”

Me:  “What???  Where?  Are you OK?”

Him:  “I’m fine.  I was mowing along the edge, almost finished, when I got too close to the lake and it tipped over.  Your son is coming to pull me out”.

Sometimes I wonder if he doesn’t do these things on purpose, just to see how far he can push the limits. 

Well, dutiful wife that I am, I got my camera and zoomed in on the proceedings, which I have here for your viewing pleasure.

Most of the equipment has been upside down, sideways or – yep – in a lake or pond at some time in its life.  Seems it was John Deere 110’s turn to do something fun – like go swimming!

Here is the scenario – my husband is standing on the left by his Gator, the tractor sideways, about 1/3 in the lake.  The mowing bar is totally underwater.

 Help is on the way . . . . .!

  

Getting the chains hooked from the loader to the tractor.

Dad’s ready to pull her out, with some supervision.

When these guys work together you can hear them a quarter of a mile away! 

One can only imagine THIS conversation! 

Always best to let a Pro do it! (or The Changing of the Guard)

And up she comes . . . . .

Being pulled to safety – where she sat overnight to let all things that should never be sideways settle back to an upright position!

Amazingly, the only damage was dirt so she got a good wash, some new oil and will need a new blade on the sickle bar mower!  Some small hand tools were lost in the mud, but easily replaceable. 

No lives were lost, only minor nicks and dings, fortunately most in the head area of the human, so no damage there!  No harm, no foul.  He lives to break more machinery and tempt Fate another day!

Just another day at the Ranch!

Ps – by the time I got back into the house the ice had melted, the tea was weak, the lemon was all fuzzy and it was time to start dinner!!!  (Livin’ the Dream, Joe, Livin’ the Dream!)

PIGGIES!

Since so many of you have asked about the pigs and piggies - I thought I'd include some photos.

Here are Mom and Dad - whoa, not such a pretty sight!!!!

But here come the little piggies - they are about to be fed and they know it!  The rooster is "Ranger" who was bequeathed to us by my son's fiance's aunt - who raised him from a chick and hand fed him, so he's still pretty tame.  Our rooster decided he didn't like him much, fought him off - even though he's smaller than Ranger - which left Ranger to fend for himself.  So he moved in with the pigs and seems quite content!

We started with 5 piglets - one of the males was sold.  2 of these are female who will remain with us to procreate when the time comes.  Two are castrated males - who will be quite tasty, I'm sure!

Yum - - - B A C O N!!!!!

DRAMA IN REAL LIFE - TO THE RESCUE!

One of the new little calves managed to fall down a steep hill, so Rancher Mike (with the help of his trusty sidekick, our son) had to “save the day”.

Here is the little fellow – you can see the creek on lower left and top of hill at top 

A close up of the little guy

My husband climbed down the far side so as not to scare the calf . . . 

. . . then he crossed the water . . .

and they had a little chat - I can only imagine the dialogue!

At last the cavalry arrived!

My son tied off the rope to a stake and threw it down to dad, who attempted to tie it around the calf . . .

. . . but help was needed to hold the calf and tie the rope at the same time so my son climbed down . . .

. . . and between them they managed to get the rope tied around the calf, just behind his front legs.

Then  my son climbed back up the hill – and with him pulling and my husband pushing . . . 

. . . they finally got the calf up the hill.

My son gave it a reassuring pat . . .

. . . then the two of them carried it to the gator . . .

. . . loaded it in . . .

. . . and with son driving and dad holding onto the calf, they drove it back to its mother!

My husband says I have to tell you this – seeing him climbing up and down these hills, you would not think he will be 71 in a month!  Yep, he’s in pretty good shape since he’s out every day - winter/summer, hot/cold, wet/dry – dealing with his animals.  He climbs up and down hills and moves fences on almost a daily basis.  When fences need mending he does that.  His beloved gator will only get him so far – then he has to go on foot!

Anyway – another typical day here on the Ranch!  Thought you might enjoy it.

MORE BIRDS - AND OTHER TALES OF COUNTRY LIFE

Mama (and her babies) checking me out while I check her out!

We had a mourning dove family set up housekeeping on the deck rafter behind the thermometer!

At night when I turned on the deck lights to let the dog out, she would eyeball me, but never move.

As the babies grew they would sit outside the nest.  I was amazed by two things:
first, the babies never made a peep!  They seemed like polite little children!
second, Mama Dove would sit on top of the grill and NOT MOVE until you were within a foot of her and reached out - then she fluttered off, but not too far.  Even if the dog came out, she stood her ground.

Baby mourning doves ready to fly the coop!

Either mourning doves are dumber than geese (!) or are extremely courageous in protecting their young!

Any birders out there - please fill me in if this is normal mourning dove behavior - or did they get so used to seeing us come and go all the time they became tame?

THE DUCK SAGA
As an aside to the doves and geese - my husband ordered 21 ducks earlier in the spring.  He even built a floating Duck Palace for them!  Unlike baby chicks, all of these survived and in about 4 weeks were ready to hit the water.

Next day - 12 ducks.

Next day - 8 ducks; then 5; then 2; now . . . . .

My son renamed the Duck Palace the "Turtle Feeding Station".

Someone came in and trapped several snapping turtles.

So my husband order 22 ducks last week.

He may have parboiled them, as we had hot weather and they had a heat lamp . . . a couple didn't make it through the first day.

He turned off the lamp and put on a screen door.  They peeped their satisfaction.  Until . . .

Next day - 6 down . . . and so it goes.  He said we have 6 currently alive.  I don't hold out much hope for them.

We are also losing our chickens, which makes me sad.  We started with 14, 2 disappeared and we had 12 for quite some time.  Then dogs got a couple and we ended up with a steady flock of 8 for quite some time.  Then he moved the chicken coop to follow the cattle again and now were are losing them at an alarming rate - down to 5.  And we really like our eggs!  We will be getting replacements soon from the farmer up the road.  But, I fear, we just don't do well with feathered objects.

AND OTHER FARM ANIMALS
On a happier note - 5 calves this year!  and 5 little piggies (all survive!)

The piggies are darn cute, what a shame they will grow to be as U G L Y as their mama and papa!  As with the cattle, I do not interact with the pigs.  Mama got out and took a little jaunt with her younguns and my husband walked them home - it was cute!  Daddy got out just today and he also was escorted home.  Jeepers, we don't want them getting out and running all over the place!

Now that I think of it, I will have some interaction with those pigs - BACON!!

MORE VISITORS - (YOU WILL LIKE THESE!)

In all the years we have lived here, we have never had geese in the side yard - until this year.

These photos were taken from inside the living room.  The geese don't pay any attention until I get about 4 feet from the window - then Daddy Goose elongates his neck and swivels his head.

All seems fine with Goose Family . . . 

. . . until I get about 4 feet from the window.

 If I go all the way to the window - the Goose Family heads over the bank and into the water.

Well, guess I got too close for comfort - there they go, heading down toward the water.

And off they go - mom in front, the little ones (who must be teenager geese by now!) and dad in the rear.

The geese are so interesting, in that they are truly a family unit.  We have two groups this year, one couple with two babies, the other with only one.  We were told by one of the fishermen that they saw a group of geese going by when suddenly one of the babies disappeared under water, never to return.  (Snapping turtles are the babies' nemesis).

THE VISITOR

NON - ART RELATED POST

PHOTO ALERT - IF VIEWING REPTILES GIVES YOU THE "WILLIES", 

SKIP THIS POST!!!

The dog began going nuts, barking and racing from window to window.  I suspected his Nemesis, the squirrel, was driving him to distraction.  

However, when I looked out the dining room door - it was not a squirrel I saw - - but this - - -

*

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YOU WERE WARNED . . . . .

Yep - a big old black snake!

He was all stretched out - I'm guessing a good 6 feet long.  

Just then my husband appeared on the deck and I motioned to him and told him there was a snake on the porch.  He agreed:  "Yes, that's a snake" he said!  (Can't fool that guy!)

As I watched, the snake turned and slithered behind some deck detritus between the dining room and kitchen doors.  

Not sure how long it stayed there, but the dog would bark, nose in and then jump backwards! Finally I let the dog in - QUICKLY! - and the snake has not been seen since.  Thank goodness!