Christmas Snow

A wonderful morning to wake up to. Big beautiful snow flakes on Christmas Day!

 

The flock was not as excited as I was.

The bravest red hen, Meverette, ventured outside for a few seconds.

 

The rest stayed inside and enjoyed their treats.

 

They had already looked outside, and checked the weather conditions and went back in.

 

Ziva flew out for 9 seconds and ran back in the coop.

 

 The ducks did a few laps around the house.

 

 They were not thrilled that all their grass was covered up.

 

I headed down to give the herd some treats.

They like the snow.

They were all very busy eating breakfast.

 

Gwen & Gracie came over to wish us a wonderful day.

 I hope all of you are enjoying your Christmas with friends and family.

The Gauntlet

Its been a very exciting few days.  My brother and mother came to visit before the weather got worse up here in the North Country.

 

I took them to the book launch of my 96 year old friends first book.

It was standing room only at the event and even an Elf came to purchase a book and have it signed!

 

 After the event my brother made fresh baked haddock.

I love ocean fish and never get any because Vermont is landlocked.

My dear brother drove the fish up directly from the ocean.

He also happens to be a great cook too.

After a luscious meal with rice, garden carrots, fish baked with butter and breadcrumbs, 4 different desserts and good refreshments, we started opening a few presents.

As I opened the present he gave me, I couldn't believe my eyes.  Everyone in the room started hooting and laughing.

It was a home made triple mouse trap named "The Gauntlet."

 

My brother told me he has mice that are so big that they take off with his traps.  He figured that since I live so rurally my mice would be even bigger, hence the 3 traps screwed to the heavy wood and strategically placed so that a mouse gets whacked.  

My mother was horrified that he would give me such a thing as a Christmas present, but I was really excited about the possibilities.

 

After our celebration they all had to head home, so I gave them fresh chicken and duck eggs, arranged in a pretty pattern plus venison steaks and chicken livers.

 

 Just before they left I set the traps and put The Gauntlet next to the big freezer out in the laundry room.

I checked it before I went to bed and it was empty.

8 hours later it was a different story.

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was sturring, not even a mouse.

And now you know why!

 

3 mice in 3 traps.

I was smiling from ear to ear.

I had to take another photo outside before I emptied the traps.

I e mailed my ingenious brother and sent him a photo and then had to phone him and leave him a message.

He did build a better mouse trap!!   
He will be building these really effective contraptions on the weekends.
This might be the best present ever, if the pony doesn't show up...

Merry Christmas!
~

Sunday Steer Sense

One day as I was checking on the herd I noticed that one of the younger steers was slowly creeping into the hay ring.  He was able to fit between the bars and subtly move onto the bale of hay. Its not a good thing. They mess in the hay and sometimes get stuck while trying to exit the hay rings. I discourage any calf who does this. (except in the spring when the newborn calves climb in to stay out of the mud )

 

 Really would not have noticed but for the other cows grunting about his presence on the hay bale.

 

 As I walked closer to where he was, he made eye contact and was about to back out of the ring but must of said "what the heck, I have already been discovered, whats the worse she can do to me?"

 

So right before my eyes, he continued to creep forward onto the bale.

 

 Every so often he would look up at me as if waiting for my response.

 

 I waited.

I looked for a way to get him out without him getting stuck and having to either pick up the entire heavy ring to get him out or have to jump in and wrestle him out.  He is a lot heavier than I am.

 

 After this last photo of him being the cutest calf of the day, I made my highly regarded attack dog noises, which scared the little bugger, and he found his way through the bars quickly and to the side of his mama.

He hasn't attempted a repeat performance.

The heifers never go in the hay rings, just the steers.      It must be a gender specific issue.

Lets do some unofficial research.   Which gender causes the most trouble at your place?  Be honest!
~

Saddle Up Saturday

When I see horses, I have to stop.

First to admire them

 

 And then to fantasize about them...

 

 

 

  I wonder how long it will be before my saddle finds a horse to wear it.

 

 

I always ask Santa for a pony (gender and color not important) and every year the neighbors get one instead....

 

It just ain't right.

 

This year I AM NOT ASKING.

 

Will see what transpires.

 

I am going to go clean my tack now.

 

How many of YOU are secretly wishing to find an equine in your driveway, barn, backyard, tied to your mailbox or standing in your kitchen?

~

Friday Fences

 Two Vermont red heads waiting for the breakfast train.

 

 Devon cattle are a calm, medium sized, British heritage breed.

They are a beautiful dark mahogany color.

Most have horns, but more polled varieties are being used.

More and more farmers are raising them.

Their meat is delicious and they are a very efficient user of hay and field grazing.

Ever taste some Devon beef?

Whats in YOUR freezer ?

~

Mule Monday

The snow has changed the landscape.

Barns, horses and mules look great with a dusting of snow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 As the snow came down harder, the drakes high feathered it directly to the coop.

They have no tolerance for snow.

I am stunned by this as so many of my friends have ducks who actually enjoy the snow.

Do your ducks like the snow ?

 

The pullets were stranded on the porch refusing to walk to the coop.

 

They looked like they were waiting for a taxi to whisk them right to their coop doorstep.

Eventually I herded them off the porch and along the garage where there was minimal snow and they zoomed into the coop.

Everyone is tucked in for the night. The snow has turned to sleet and the roads are a bit icy, but it makes all the lights on the Christmas trees outside of the little village stores look even better.

This "winter mix" of rain, sleet and snow should end by the afternoon.

Did you get the snow?  How much?
~

Saturday Varmints

This week I trapped a fat red squirrel in my chicken coop.  He has been gorging himself on the pellets in the feeder when the flock has been out grazing.

I transported him in the trap up to the big field with the apple trees, out in the middle of nowhere.

About a mile from the designated re-homing place, the trap tipped over and Mr Fatso zoomed out and ran across my dashboard as I was driving. Mavis made a few quick grabs at him every time he ran to her side of the dashboard, but didn't get him.

I pulled over, opened my door and got out of the vehicle, hoping he would exit.

After 20 minutes of standing, with Mavis out in the middle of the field, watching my truck 50 feet away, I guessed he "must of" gotten out.  I climbed back in and headed home.

On the way, I heard the unmistakable sound of a squirrel stuck up inside the dashboard.
I just can not believe my rotten luck.

When I pulled into my driveway, it resembled a fire drill. Windows down, hatchback opened. Mavis and I jumped out quickly and got away from the vehicle as fast as possible.

I had the doors opened for a few seconds but then the hens jumped in and I had to shut the doors!

We ran into the house (Mavis and I...NOT the hens..) and took up our posts at the window so we would know when the rodent got out of my vehicle, and waited.    And waited.   And waited.

55 minutes later, this happened:

 

 I thought for sure he would make a quick exit, but noooooooo..... he went BACK IN!!!

For another 30 minutes he ran across my dashboard, visited the back seat (I hid the graham crackers!) and went to the far back and ran across my snow shovel several times.

It was getting darker and later.  The flock was already heading to the coop.   I didn't want the squirky squirrel camping out in my vehicle over night. 

Finally he danced across the arm rests a few more times, ran through the steering wheel and ventured to the passenger side window and stood there for what seemed like 15 long minutes.

Then.....

I went outside and wiped all the smelly squirrel pee from my dashboard, armrests, door and seat.

Luckily he did not eat (or pee on) my paperwork for my job interview, my favorite livestock disease book or the Christmas card from my friend.     Mavis sniffed every inch of the vehicle and gave her seal of approval that he was gone.

I took the little trap and reset it back on the shelf in the coop.

You think this is the end of Mr Fatso's story ?

Nope.

TODAY, I come home from my errands and hear the unmistakable sound of something jiggling the trap in the coop.    I was both excited that I had caught another food robber and dismayed that there seems to be no end to the large population of uninvited coop visitors.

When I stepped into the coop  I recognized Mr Fatso Peewee.

I carefully carried the trap outside and then I took a mug shot of the #1 Most Wanted Varmint this side of Burlington.   He obliged.

Because he smiled at me I took him to a really nice hidden pond where there are apple trees and acorns  nearby.       He can set up housekeeping in this little area of Paradise.  There is a beaver family, lots of deer and 2 dozen geese to keep him entertained.

The ironic part of this entire thing is that I had not baited the trap when I had reset it.   He walked into it for no reason.

I hope this is the last rodent that insists on coming into the coop to feast on expensive layer pellets.

How about you ?  Are you removing coop pests from your coops and barns?

What do you do with them, once you trap them ?

What is the MOST you have ever trapped in a week, month or 3 month or 6 month period?

I once trapped 18 chipmunks in a week.   They were eating my double netted strawberry plants.

I often wish there were tiny birth control pills I could put in peanuts or sunflower seeds.

Got any other ideas ?
~

Friday Fences

It is amazing the subtle difference a fence makes to a photo.

 

 I also give much of the credit to the magnificent trees for enhancing a photo as well.

The ducks left before I got there or that would of been an additional dimension to this wonderful gray pond scene.

~

Herd Mates

"A day in the country is worth a month in the city."

The herd had some visitors last weekend.

They brought treats and conversation for me AND for my cows.

 I LOVE Meals on Wheels!!!

As soon as they unloaded the fresh clam chowder, snickerdoodles and tapioca for me, we grabbed the case of graham crackers and headed down to the farm to chat and chew with the herd. 

 

 We had some fun quality time with the girls.

 

 The herd were polite and recieved their sweet treats gently.

 

 

I take great pride in seeing my city friends being so comfortable around all kinds of livestock.

I have known them since I was 15 so they have been subjected to all kinds of species as I grew up.

I started in 4H at a young age, so I had the rabbits, cavies, ducks and geese.

As I got a little older I rescued an ancient Hampshire ewe that I had befriended at school and who was headed to the school slaughter house because she did not get bred.

I put her in my old blue car and drove her home. 16 days later she had a big ram lamb and that started the beginning of my flock.

Then the horses came. Cows were the next natural step after working on dairy farms and big southern ranches.

These 2 friends came to the dairy farm I worked on and camped out in the field in a red tent (that the cows did not like) and helped me do chores, bring the cows in and carry the pails of milk to the bulk tank.

Anyhow, they have persevered with my different life style and the constant animals and personal challenges in my life.

My own brother is not that comfortable around my herd.  I always chuckle about that.

Oh well.....

As the morning wore on, the special tricks started.  There is always "one in every crowd" who has to show how brave they are with graham crackers....

 

After we left the herd we went to go pick up some local meat I had ordered.

My friends got to see another farm, meet another farmer and see where my lamb came from.

It was a fun adventure.

That evening we attended a local chorus. There were 78 singers and a huge harp on the stage and they sang like angels.

We met the harp and the harp owner.

 

Next day we went to church.

We sang a lot.

 

I took photos of the oldest church member. (96)

We visited rural cemeteries where relatives are laid to rest and deer run through the field.

 

 Then we came to my place and picked Brussel sprouts.

 

And bagged them up for their trip home.

I cooked lunch (no fires), we talked, laughed, made plans and had a joyous time.

In the process I packed up some eggs for them to take home so they can enjoy the wonderful taste of really really fresh eggs.  

The cows were visited again, a few more errands were accomplished and then it was time for my dear guests to head home.

 

 I think I wore them out.

They are such party animals.

Have you had any wonderful guests lately?

What did you send them home with ?
~