Adventures With Ann - Part One - RomneyRyan Rally

 

 

2012 has been a bonus year for me.  My friend Ann and I have been out together more this year than in past years.  I am fortunate that we are both making that concerted effort to see more of each other. We always have a good time!

 

Just this past week, we were able to share two days, back to back.

 

 

I-64 traffic backing up (in distance)

 

 

First, we attended a RomneyRyan Rally at a venue just about 30 minutes north of me.  Of course, the evening started with dinner at a new-to-us restaurant.  After all, you cannot attend a rally on an empty stomach.  As we were getting close to the rally site, the traffic was lining in all directions.  At one point, the motorcade passed us - about 15 motorcycled officers passed complete with flashing blue lights, several white vans, two black vans with tinted windows, followed up with more security.  Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan had arrived.  Within one mile, we were greeted by the distant view of a huge American flag waving in the breeze; the symbol we can all support.  Once at the rally, we met up with two friends.  Susan and her husband, Mark, had American flags and RomneyRyan signs for us to wave.  We were set.

Mark and Susan with Ann

 

The rally was full of energy and excitement.  A huge screen flanking the stage continuously flipped scenes of Mitt Romney while we waited for the ‘show’ to begin.  Later, this screen displayed the live presentations.  I could view the stage clearly, so I rarely watched the screen.   Though crowded, I could walk about unimpeded; And, I did. There was no pushing, no shoving; just a considerate group of Americans.

 

Standing near the press riser, I was able to get a photo of Carl Cameron, who follows the campaign trail for Fox News, putting on his make-up.  He wielded his powder puff with ease.

 

The introductory speakers included many Virginia state politicians including Representative Bob Goodlatte, state representative Ben Cline, Susan Allen on behalf of her husband George Allen who is running for state Senate, and Virginia’s Lt. Governor, Bill Bolling.

U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte

Virginia State Representative Ben Cline

Susan Allen

  Then,  NRA’s Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre took to the stage to remind the crowd, though unnecessary, about our Second Amendment right.

 

Next, a mini concert featuring country music star, Trace Adkins, a vocal supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, raised the crowd’s enthusiasm to a higher level.

 

 

Paul Ryan took to the stage first for a few comments before being joined by Mitt Romney.  The crowd gave them their full support.  Since this rally was held the very next day after the first televised 2012 Presidential Debate, I admittedly concentrated on getting a few good photos rather than on the speeches.  Every sentence was followed by hoots, whistles, yells and the lifting and waving of lots of RomneyRyan signs.  Clear photos were a challenge.

 

A brief burst of fireworks ended the festivities. 

 

The short walk to the car among the thousands of attendees, and long wait in the bumper to bumper exiting traffic continued the exhilaration of the rally.

 

I certainly recommend a dose of ‘hands on’ politics to everyone; be engaged in your country and in your rights.

 

Back at home, Ann stayed and talked with Glenn and myself until after midnight before starting her 30+ minute drive home.  Ann was due back the next morning at 10:00 AM to pick me up for our next adventure…

 

To be continued….

Water System, Phase Two - Remaining Details Complete

 

 

 

The finishing details on the new water system at ‘55’, phase two, are decisively complete.

 

 

The other day, Glenn and Becky finally had a few extra minutes to complete the stock waterer corral.  They needed to hang the last two of four gates to finish the project. 

 

The corral fences off one of the two stock waterers on the farm.  This corral acts like a hub.  The gates allow only one section of pasture to be accessed by the cattle at one time; yet providing easy access to water -  a principle of our grazing system.

 

My comments at the work site were not appreciated, so I left walking back through the pastures to find better company; perhaps, the cats.

I saw many beautiful fall-flowering weeds along the way. 

Again, I came out a winner!

 



Enough with the camera already....
 



Take my picture, take my picture!



Becky's Chickens

 

Our current chicken flock is old (three years) and the laying power has greatly diminished over time; this is to be expected and is very normal.

 

 

 

A decision had to made...buy new laying hens or buy eggs from the grocery store. The answer, a no brainer; buy younger hens.

 

Becky decided to move the egg production operation over to her place.  So, last week, she purchased 31 red sex-link (cross-bred) pullets locally. This breed always produces beautiful brown-shelled eggs.

 

I still have the old hens.  I was getting a couple of eggs per day, but I could not identify the non-layers as all the hens still sported a fairly healthy, red comb indicating that they are a layer.  So, they all remain in my flock.

 

 I asked Becky for four of the young pullets and added them, yes added them, to my current flock.  In the world of chicken, it is a no-no to mix different ages of birds; the pecking order goes into full swing and the young pullets would certainly be the peckees.  I took a chance.

 

 When I added the four pullets, I carefully watched them during their first day with the old hens.  A little beak pecking did occur, but not much; there was no blood shed as could have been the case.  The four pullets were acclimated into the flock within a day’s time.

 

That first dusk, as the older hens entered their house, the new hens were confused.  They did not know where to spend the night; evidently they were not watching the routine.  So, Glenn and I had to manually direct the pullets to the opening of the house.  The four finally entered and we closed the door. All Mountain Glen Farm fowl were safe for the night.

 

The next morning, I discovered that my egg production double; suggesting, perhaps, that some of the older hens were compelled (remain viable as an egg-layer or become chicken stew) to lay or the new pullets produced two eggs each.  I will never know; but, I was pleased.

 

While the weather is still mild, Becky houses her pullets in a movable pen; thus, providing fresh grass daily to augment their feed.  Chicken feed has become quite expensive in the last year; nevertheless, eating fresh and tasty eggs is worth the expenditure; ask anybody who gets eggs from Becky’s hens.  The eggs are gorgeous; but most importantly, flavorful.

a pullet attempting an escape while Becky collects eggs from the nesting boxes

 

Becky now collects eggs several times per day.  Her refrigerator is filling.  She needs new egg customers so that she can break even on her feed bill.

beautiful eggs - 1/2 of a day's gathering

 

You read that right…break even.  Selling farm fresh eggs is not a money-maker; it is more a service of the fresh food movement.

Becky with her new flock


 

 

Farm fresh eggs, anyone?

a simple country pleasure

Pics That Make Me Smile and stink bug update

 

I was going to post just one photo today - the beginning of one of my sugar maples turning red, but I went out with Glenn to check the flerd near dusk and I was rewarded with many photos ops.

 

Animals in motion tend to blurr in my excitement to get the 'shot' - please use a bit of imagination.

 



beginning of the red blaze....

a broken section of split rail fence in the woods from falling trees becomes a mini split rail in my yard

a deer running for cover

moon over the sky of dusk



Glenn checking the flerd under a colorful late evening sky

I was ready, camera  in hand,  as this heron flew for a moment's rest in a nearby tree top - what a treat!

heron on the fly

Update:  On a unpleasant note...Today was the worst ever in terms of dealing with the stink bugs.  They are every where and in plaque-like numbers. Going into or out of my house, I am constantly hit by flying stink bugs and one or two land on me.  I opened the door to my car and counted 25 hanging out around the door seal - this was only one door, multiply by four.    The window screens are covered with 50 (estimate on the low side) at one time.  The bugs crawl inside pockets of the laundry hanging out to dry, or into shoes airing outside. Glenn even started using his old shop vac to vacuum up hundreds at a time.  Whew...the stench; it makes me ill.  The jars of gasoline are filled within hours - it is a constant job catching the bugs inside the house; outside, the problem is worse.  So, what did I do with one of today's jars....

I have no sympathy!!!

The Stink Bugs Are Back, Again!

 

The stinkbugs are back. (see 9-26-11 blog - We Are being Invaded) Last year, they were disgusting; but this year, they are geometrically more revolting.

 

The stink bugs were around all summer, but they were hiding among the foliage of plants and not very obtrusive.  Their numbers seemed to be tolerable.

 

Now, that the weather has cooled with the changing of the season, these hideous insects are coming inside - yuck, yuck, triple yuck - in record numbers.

 

Last year, we would see about one per night.  Extermination was easy…grab the beast in a piece of TP and quickly flush away before any odor was released - bye, bye.

 

Not so easy this year; eliminate 5, and within minutes there are 10 more in their place. They not only buzz(similar to a large bee) around the house, but they also have the nerve to land on my person.  Again, triple yuck!

 

The preference for permanent elimination is different, this year, too…a jar of gasoline; it works for Japanese beetles in the garden, and it works for stink bugs in the house.  We just have to be speedy enough before the release of the putrid stench.  We have several jars judiciously placed throughout the house; trying to be prepared at all times.

 

I just hope to make it through to the cold of winter, and hopeful hibernation of the majority of the vermin, without upchucking in abhorrence.

 

Sheep Working Day

HELLO! Rather....BAAAA!

Now, I know.  Sheep are just like cows; they have only lower teeth at the front of their mouths.  That is huge news for me!

 

For the past year plus, since obtaining our first flock of sheep ever, I was told that they have both upper and lower teeth.  And, they do; just at the back of their jaws, not at the front.  I have told other people this incorrect information.  As verification, when one of our sheep would open its mouth, it looked like it was smiling with a full set.  Not the case.

 

Yesterday, during our fall sheep working day (it just happened to fall on the first day of autumn), Becky corrected my erroneous thinking.  I did not believe her, but…

 

As I was standing there talking to her, one of our very friendly ewes walked up to me.  I took that opportunity to open her mouth and look inside, up front.  Yep…lower teeth only.  And, I put my fingers in her mouth to double verify.

How about a scratch...thanks, that feels good.

 

Even Glenn thought that sheep had both lowers and uppers.  I guess we both learned something today. 

 

To those folks I told otherwise; I apologize for passing along incorrect details.  In my defense, I never had my hand in a sheep’s mouth before yesterday afternoon.

 

So, after that significant discovery, we all (Glenn, Matthew, Becky and I) went to work. 

 

Who's first?

I had the easiest job; I recorded the facts, I repeat…facts: ear tag number of ewe; amount of worm medicine given, if needed; if the hoofs were clipped or not; overall coat appearance such as smooth, woolly, medium, remnants of a cape, or down right fluffy.  At this time of year, the sheep should be smooth with the least amount of residual (last winter’s) extra hair.  Sheep which retain their winter coats tend to overheat during the summer; so, we are trying to eliminate this characteristic in our herd. It is a process that will take years.  We begin by keeping lambs for replacement ewes from ewes with a smooth summer coat.  Also, ewes that retain a substantial amount of last year’s growth seem to be more susceptible to acquiring parasites; another undesirable characteristic that needs to be minimized and/or eliminated.   Lastly, the amount the hoofs need to be trimmed is another factor for female lamb retention.  We want ewes with slow hoof growth; keeping that chore to a minimum over the course of the year.  Our goals are to maintain healthy ewes and lambs that are resistant to parasites and to retain those animals that need the least amount of maintenance.  Period.




Cyndy recording from the best seat in the working area - actually the only seat in the working area.



What are you doing?  Oh good, a pedicure...make my color Rosy Red, please!



PINK indicates a 'keeper' female lamb - a future Mountain Glen Farm ewe

done...back to business...eating and relaxing

 



resting and relaxing after their wellness exams

 

Glenn, Matt and Becky did the manual labor of grabbing the sheep, one by one; treating for parasites, as necessary,  and trimming hoofs, as necessary.  Five hours later, all the sheep had gone through the process.  In the end, the sheep were content; grazing and resting.  And, Glenn, Matt and Becky were exhausted and in various degrees of pain from muscle exertion. 

 

a very tired bunch



maybe there is another seat in the working area or just  an odd-looking ewe

Fortunately, a BIG job was crossed off 'the list'!

 

One last chore of the day awaited…Glenn and Matthew loaded Scruffy (removing him from the main herd of cows) and took him to rest with our other herd bull, three yearling bulls and a couple of cull cows all which are currently grazing on leased pasture.  I did not go along, but I heard the story…the two mature bulls, the first time they had ever been together, went through the natural routine of fighting for dominance.  After much pushing and head bumping, Little Red, being the smaller of the two, relented to the #2 spot.  This morning, the beefy bulls are getting along knowing their standing in the herd.  (Note:  Since Little Red was our first South Poll bull, he will always be the top bull on the farm in my eyes.)

 

Did I mention that the weather was warm, sunny with varying overcast, slightly breezy and perfect for the first day of autumn and for our fall sheep working day?  Well…it was!

 

Absolutely GORGEOUS!