Animal Instinct

Home Again

2012-02-10T21:02:00.004-05:00

I got the best package in the mail today!!

My LL Bean boots came back from the LL Bean repair shop!!

They got new souls, new laces and 2 new inserts.

Cost: $42 bucks. Worth every cent.

They are BETTER than new because they already fit me like a glove and are already broke in.

3 weeks ago I gently packaged them and sent them off to Maine, with an apology note explaining the mouse nest and collection of wild grass seeds that filled both boots.
Obviously a mouse had methodically built a wonderful warm nest from my dogs hair inside the GoreTex boots (smart mouse) and had a winters worth of food in there as well. I suspect this happens a lot to footware that has been waiting around since 1984 for repair.

Why did I wait so long to do a very simple thing, you ask....

Well, there is a very good reason why I was afraid to mail these particular boots away from me.

In 1974 I was in high school and working a weekend job for minimum wage. It took me a year, but I finally saved enough money for my first pair of boots.

I drove to Maine and got my water proof, super warm boots.

A few months later I also got my first Golden Retriever puppy.

Ruby was the light of my life. We were inseperable.

One day Ruby found my LLBean boots.

She left her"signature" of puppy chew marks on the boot tabs.

Unfortunately, Ruby died of liver failure at age 5.

Every time I put those boots on I thought of her. Every time.

With my rugged life, the bottoms wore out 5 years after Ruby left.

The boots were no longer safe on snow, ice, or leak proof, so instead I wore them as slippers after I would take off my other boots at the end of a long day.

Over the years I went to college, moved to Florida, moved back to Vermont, traveled and explored various jobs and states. No matter where I went I always brought my worn out, unusable LL Bean boots with me.

Because every time I looked at the tabs with her puppy teeth marks on them, I would think of those days of running through fields, swimming in lakes, bringing the cows in to be milked, moving sheep to new fields and searching for missing hens, hidden stagecoaches and feral hogs. Our magical solitude on a mountain many decades ago.

I feared if I mailed the boots for repair that they would get lost in the mail, or LL Bean would replace the tabs. I couldn't risk it.

I couldn't lose that moment when a 10 week old puppy left me an important reminder that life is short and not to sweat the small stuff like a puppy chewing on your expensive boots.

So what made me change my mind to send the Ruby boots to LL Bean?

I read a review of a LL Bean customer who returned her boots for repair. There was a"before"photo and an"after"photo. It was clear that one of her boot tabs was missing in the before photo.

And low and behold in her"after" photo, that included new soles and inserts, there was NOT a replacement tab added to her boots.

I packed my boots up the next day, wrote a check along with the mouse nest appology note and mailed it all.

So when the box arrived today, I ripped it open and found this:

I'll never forget you Ruby. Never.

Thank you LL Bean. Good Job.
~

The Princess in the Hay

2012-02-09T21:38:00.000-05:00

It was a frosty -15 degrees below zero yesterday morning just before the sun came up.

I carefully drove down the icy road to feed and water the cows. My headlights caught the ice crystals hanging off of all the trees. My breath was freezing as I exhaled. The windows fogging up. My heater still blowing cold air. The roads were empty and I was the only vehicle out in the dark.

The gigantic full moon was the only witness to my passionate drive to serve breakfast to my beloved herd.

As I drove closer to the field the cows are in, my headlights caught an unusual sight.

I wasn't really sure what I saw.

As I put on my heavy gloves over my heavy jacket I glanced again in the direction of the herd and saw a white head inside the hay rack.

The herd had frost on them and some were laying on the ground near the hay rack, the manure pack keeping them warm underneath.

But the one cow that was the most comfortable was the one inside the hay rack on her fluffy bed of hay. She did not budge one inch when I arrived on the scene.

It was still dark out so my flash was going off, making the cow eyes look owlish.

Upon closer inspection I discovered it was the mischievous #5... Glory. All tucked into the hay, happy, warm, well fed and with no intention of moving.

The cows had plenty of hay to munch on until I returned later that afternoon, so I didn't have to start the frozen tractor, sit on the ice encrusted seat or freeze my fingers off cutting the white marshmellow plastic off the big bale...until later in the day.

The old saying "let sleeping dogs lay" came to mind, so I left Glory as she was.

Hoping she would exit the rack on her own, without incident.

7 hours later when I returned, she was still in the hay rack and her mom was bellowing because her bag was engorged because that hay-bed hogging calf had not nursed all day.

Glory was not concerned.

The question; How do you get a cow out of a hay rack?

The answer: Carefully.

Who else has had a cow in the hay rack?

~

Ice Bath-Cow Style

2012-02-04T13:59:00.000-05:00

Doesn't matter if it is 40 degrees out or -10 degrees, my cows insist on giving each other several baths a day. Of particular concern are the calves that are still at the sides of their mothers.

Doesn't matter if they are 4 hours old, 4 months old, yearlings or adults, they get bathed at various times during the day.

Google was giving Glory an "after dinner" bath when I was there watering them, in sub zero weather.

The wind was howling and freezing but it didn't stop this mom from her bathing duties.

Cleanliness is very dear to Miss Googlyness. She has bathed me several times during the summer when I was in less than acceptable condition for her. That sandpaper tongue almost took my skin off.

After she made Glory spic and span she turned her attention to her 5 year old daughter, Gwen, and started giving her the same ice bath. I knew I was next, so I left.

Why all the baths never turn to actual ice in these extreme conditions always amazes me. That is alot of slobber, but I imagine it stays warm because the cows mouth is warm and the cows stay warm in various ways. Their body heat is a bit higher than ours and their winter coats are thick. They got the real stuff, not PolarTec polyester.

Good cows, good moms.

~

Robins in January ???

2012-01-31T15:54:00.000-05:00

For 2 days there have been hundreds of Robins perched on all the sumac trees.

Usually we do not see Robins until April.

Everytime I went outside to get a photo, they all flew away.

So it was hard to get a great photo of 6 on each branch.

They are a busy bunch.

There are dozens of sumac trees full of berries around the big fields so I think these wayward Robins will be here awhile.

They are all very beautiful, very vocal and very free with their "fertilizers".....

I am glad I didn't cut down the sumac tree near my garden because a good number of the robins have been sitting and shi.......ing on my garden and compost pile for 2 days.

Lucky me.

Anyone else in a cold zone have robins?

Mothers of the Human Race

2012-01-30T21:38:00.000-05:00

Can you name all the breeds pictured here?

Which one is your favorite?

Anyone have this actual poster?

Bumper Stickers

2012-01-29T14:18:00.002-05:00

These are the latest bumper stickers I saw at a conference.

I have also seen some really good ones on the back of trucks recently.

I love a good vanity plate or practical bumper sticker.

Have you seen any good ones lately ?

Got a favorite ?

Saturday in Vermont

2012-01-28T13:23:00.001-05:00

The sun is out, the rain has stopped and there isn't an ice skating rink in the garage or cellar. Still lots of water with no where to go, but conditions have improved. There will be a mess to clean up after the water level has gone down.

Its a great day to bake while cleaning and studying for an exam.

Texas corn muffins came out Bigger and Better than ever.

Water and slush cover everything outside. Lots of sumac got knocked down in the rain.

The birds ate several of my giant sunflower heads during the rain and flooding.

I have another 30 or so heads to keep the birds happy for awhile.

~

Soggy Cow Breakfast

2012-01-27T12:43:00.001-05:00

Last night at 8 pm the snow came. I was happy.

I expected to wake up to a winter wonderland.

I did not.

At some point in the night it all turned to rain and lots of it.

The cellar and garage are flooded. The garage has never flooded before.

All attempts to direct the water away from the building has failed.

The roads have 3 inches of water on them and it has nowhere to go.

Worse yet was that the cows were not happy this morning either.

Wanda was giving me the "hairy eyeball" look as I moved towards the hay rack, showing me her displeasure with my lateness with her favorite meal.

Thankfully, all our hay made on this farm was wrapped this summer since we did not have a barn to store it in. So the hay is dry, tasty and very nutritious. Wanda approves.

It makes me happy to see the cows munching on hay that is as fresh as it was on the day it was made, wrapped up and stacked. It smells sweet and warm, exactly like it did in July.

By the time I finished watering the cows and cutting the plastic and twine off the "breakfast bale" I was soaking wet. Even though I had dressed warm and worn my heavy duty raincoat.

Sitting on a slushy, wet, freezing tractor seat really chills the bones.

And soaks the bottoms of my carhart pants.

The cows don't seem too bothered with all the rain.

They are more bothered with the fact that I spent too much time trying to redirect the flood waters away from the house.

Cows wear watches and they always know when its feeding time. They insist on punctuality.

If you are tardy, they will let you know.

Wanda is my time keeper cow.

I imagine many people are experiencing flooding and water issues today.

I am very thankful that all this rain didn't turn to ice as it was predicted to. That would of been disastrous and.......the cows would of had to wait even longer for "meals on wheels" since it would of taken me longer to slide down the road to feed them. There would of been a mutiny

It is such a miserable day that the streets in the village are empty. That is very unusual.

Hope you and your livestock are all staying dry.

I am going to need my kayak to get to the cows tomorrow if this rain doesn't stop.

~

Color 4 You

2012-01-23T08:34:00.000-05:00

I was desperate to "touch and sniff" some pretty plants today. Its been freezing here for several days and everything is cold, dark and dreary.

I headed to the local florists. The smells and colors were heavenly.

Here is some color to brighten YOUR day:

I was so much more energized after I left the florists. Better than coffee!!

I wonder if it was the colors or the smells?

Spring can't get here fast enough for me!

~

Sandwich Farmer

2012-01-20T14:39:00.000-05:00

We are having sandwiches today with bread that my friend made, cheese that another friend made and lettuce that I am growing. Fresh milk to wash it all down, plus an apple pie from our own fall apples for dessert.

I have a small field of lettuce growing inside the house and this week it really got some growth on it so it was time for another tasty harvest of it. Sandwiches today, salad tomorrow.

The only item in the sandwiches that was not " Made in Vermont" is the Miracle Whip.

Not bad for a 15 degree day in January!

~

Making Cud

2012-01-19T20:47:00.000-05:00

Sub zero temperatures make the cows consume large amounts of hay so they can maintain their body heat.

I had fun hanging out with Googly and her heifer calf, Glory, while they snacked on the bale-of-the- day.

This June born calf is still nursing off of her mom. Proof is this nice "milk face."

Meadow hay and milk keep calves growing strong during this winter weather.

The smell of the hay and the noise they make while pulling hay off the bale and getting it into their mouths is all part of the experience of "visiting" them during lunch.

The facial expressions that happen while they eat were comical.

Similar to my spaghetti eating experiences.

Cows eat quickly because they do not have to chew their food initially. First they rip it off the bale and swallow it. Later they will regurgitate it back up, as cud, to chew it properly and swallow it again.

My cows like to go to a special place to lay down and relax while they chew their cud.

Usually under the trees after breckfast and on the hay mound after dinner.

Mothers always eat with their daughers. Side by side.

And no matter how big the bale is, mom and daughter will share the exact same area of the bale.

Cow ettiquette is important in this herd.

After they eat they go together to the water tub for water and then they go lay down, together again, to chew their cud and keep warm during this -10 degree night.

Hope all of you and your livestock are staying warm and safe during these extreme tempertures.

~

Muffin Fires, Ice & Bloomers

2012-01-16T15:20:00.002-05:00

Day 3 of the New Ice Age.

Just a "regular" -12 F degrees on the outside thermometer here this am. Don't know what the wind chill is, and I would rather not know.

The bushes and trees are frozen

The tractor is frozen, even though it was plugged in all night.

Got a pipe that's frozen, even though we had heat on it.

(Plumber is on his way.)

I am frozen, even though I have 4 layers of clothes on and a cup of hot chocolate in my hand.

Its so cold outside the mailbox door broke in half.

Cows are fine, birds are eating all my sunflower seeds and suet and my geranium is blooming.

Bean soup for supper.

Dreaming about planting squash, beans and melons.

Murray McMurray catalog is on the way. (Lord, give me strength and self control)

Searching for Appleyard ducks to be my "weapons of mass snail destruction" but can't seem to find any.

For all of you folks who asked me to share my secret, yummy corn bread recipe, here it is:

Follow the complete, exact instructions on the back of the box.

Add 2 tablespoons of local honey and use only fresh eggs and the taste will amaze you.

Because of my muffins there is a rumor going around town that I am a fabulous cook. I was utterly shocked when I heard it!

Now, everyone is asking me to bring my corn bread muffins to every event I attend. Even the church ladies want me to make 10 dozen for their bake sale.

I hate rumors. Little do they know that the smoke alarms in my home get a screaming workout twice a week and...

We just had to replace one of the fire extinguishers 2 weeks ago because of one of my cooking adventures.

But the muffin recipe is simple, usually fire-less and quick to do.

Enjoy.

~

Cow Hero

2012-01-15T15:17:00.003-05:00

My hero is coming to Vermont.

Temple Grandin is coming to talk about humane handling of livestock.

If fate is on my side I will have not only a front row seat at the workshop, but will be driving her to Logan Airport later...... Use your imagination..... Janis & Temple in the same vehicle.....

Click on the link above to read the info about her planned arrival in Vermont.

Register for the workshop on January 21st.

My cows are making "Welcome" signs!

It should be an incredible experience.

Don't miss out.

~

Horse Dreams

2012-01-12T11:31:00.003-05:00

Another great day, another wonderful adventure.

More barns and a few unusual equines.

I saw these yearlings and had to stop and talk with them.

They were all ears.

I observed a few different traits on these youngsters and was curious enough to try to find out what kind of horse they were. I had my suspicions.

With determination and persistence I got my answer.

Wish I had a few of these myself. I would even trade one of my cows for one.

And I never say that.

Guess the breed...... Don't be shy.

And whats your favorite breed AND color combination for a horse?

"If wishes were horse, we would all ride."

I am still wishing and waiting to find one on my front lawn.....

Cow Chute

2012-01-07T17:52:00.000-05:00

I never know what I may find as I drive the back roads and mountain streams.

Today I found a portable cattle chute 18 miles from home.

My neighbor is looking to borrow one to work his cattle in because the Department of Agriculture's "loaner" chute got drowned and destroyed during Hurricane Irene. So there was none to lend, until I went a driving over hill and dale and saw this vintage beauty sitting in a field with nothing to do....

It ain't pretty and it looks like it will jostle our old bones some, but it will get the job done.

Needs some oiling, that's for sure.

Hope we can talk to the owner and get it borrowed some day.

Any other suggestions on how to get this ancient chute up and running smoothly ?

Barns of Peacham

2012-01-05T20:10:00.003-05:00

I have discovered Peacham and I am liking what I have found.

Quiet rural back roads, old barns, open fields, great views.

The barns are BIG.

The barns are RED

Loved all the windows on this one.

Newer barns. Very nice.

Nice style, well thought out so that people and livestock stay dry.

Peacham is one of the first Vermont towns.

You can drive through "downtown" in 4 seconds.

Great General Store with Vermont products and friendly customers.

In its September 2005 issue, Yankee Magazine designated Peacham as the best village in New England. "Of all the villages in New England, Peacham (population 665) is unsurpassed."

A vintage hard working barn.

Needs some repair to keep it weatherized.

A barn with actual shutters in good condition.

This barn was added on to years ago for better hay storage.

Many of the old barns built in 1776 when this town was settled have been added on vertically and horizontally.

There are several "barns inside of barns" in this area.

The kind of barn I would love to come home to.

Acessable, cute, well built and I hear it calling my name....

I have barn envy.

Barns are built on hillsides since this is a mountain side town.

Vermont has made hillside farming an art form.

Barns of all sizes. Really like this pair.

Wonderful winter decorations all over town and in the rural areas too.

I am going back to see more.

Daughters of the American Revolution

2012-01-03T10:58:00.003-05:00

I found an old building with a lot of history, not far from a main road by the river last week.

I would of driven right by it ( since it was not a barn..) if I had not seen the DAR sign.

It got my curiosity up so I got out and read the bronze sign and got educated.

The present State House is 50 miles away from here in Montpelier. It is further inland and a little more central. Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the nation.

This building is still well used for meetings, gatherings and events.

More Info about this building and the D.A.R. organization at: http://www.dar.org/

There is a well kept barn not far from where the DAR building is.

Simple holiday decorations accent the architecture of the building.

An old garden shed window with a collection of bottles suggests how old this gardener may be....

I am still exploring this new area and finding lots of treasures.

Good Luck Corn Bread

2012-01-01T21:05:00.000-05:00

I took a chance today and made my favorite corn bread recipe.

It came out better than usual: no smoke alarms went off and I did not start a kitchen fire

Ate several of them, shared them with friends and they were delicious!

Didn't have any Black Eyed peas to eat with em. The corn biscuits was filling enough.

So bring on 2012!

Golden Dreams and Hoofbeats

2012-01-01T11:48:00.000-05:00

I dream every night of horses running through fields.

The same 4 horses aways appear in those dreams.

Those dreams sometimes last for hours.

Yesterday as I drove down an old road with a magnificent view of the mountains, I found the 4 horses in my dreams.

They took my breath away when I first saw them watching me take photos of the mountains.

Of course I had to go make sure they were real.

They are.

Now I will have to locate the owner and find out what the story is on these 4.

They seemed willing to come home with me.........

Enjoy the Joy of 2012

Make your dreams come true!

Making New, Out of Old

2011-12-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

I walked into the local Winter Farmers Market and was awestruck at these unusual lamps.

Notice anything familiar ?

The lamps are made out of vintage meat grinders.

The kind our grandparents used every day.

The kind I am still looking for to grind my fresh beef.

An unusual creation from a real work horse appliance.

Are you still using your old grinders?

Christmas Calves

2011-12-29T11:57:00.001-05:00

Just about everyone in this town raises livestock of one kind or another.

I like to visit these different neighboring farms and see what kind of mischief I can get into, or at least help with chores.

This neighbor raises some hefty Herefords.

They love to eat. The farmer raises his own hay, corn, silage and sunflower seed.

Christmas eve and Christmas day were busy ones for 7 of the cows.

They had calves in the serene quiet of those special nights.

The first surprise was born on 12/24

Meet "Eve"

Warm milk from a good momma cow is a real treat on these cold Vermont days.

On Christmas this large reindeer-looking calf was born.

Of course the name Rudolph would of been appropriate had it been a boy..... it was a girl so, meet Ruby !

One of the new born calves was very small and it was very cold out, so a Polartec calf blanket was put on the little heifer. She soon warmed up. PolarTec makes cows happy!

Red calves look GREAT in blue blankets!

Farmers never get a day off. Never. And sometimes they may need help haying, harvesting, feeding livestock, repairing fences, cutting fallen trees off the fence lines, moving cows or even putting blankets on calves.

Go meet your local farmers. Learn some skills and offer to help with some simple chores.

You will be glad you did.

~

Spud Man

2011-12-28T18:37:00.000-05:00

My potato growing adventure was a horrible disaster this summer.

Those that know me know I am a potato worshipper. I love them, and I live by them.

However, I barely got 5 potatoes out of my garden so I have been looking to buy fresh, locally grown potatoes. I need a steady supply.

Lucky for me that this handsome local farmer brought all his spuds to the Farmers Market.

I purchased 10 pounds of small Fingerling potatoes.

Fast to cook in a frying pan or by boiling.

Delicious and filling. 4 or 5 are all that I need to fill me up and make me smile.

He is happy that he has a new customer and I am thrilled to have a farmer who has 9 different varieties of spuds and a good sense of humor!

Shop at your local farmers market. Shop often.

~

Mavis Meets Emu

2011-12-27T14:49:00.002-05:00

My reluctant cow dog, Mavis, went with me to visit a neighbor and do some farm chores.

The neighbor has a "real" cow dog and raises beef cattle, poultry, pigs and....... emu.

As the dogs played and ran around the farm, I wondered how long it would take for Mavis to notice the numerous emu ( is is emus? or emi? ).

She walked right by them several times ........

and then finally she saw them.

They all made gentle eye contact with each other and then Mavis walked away to continue playing with her new Border Collie friend, Queenie.

I am hoping that Queenie will "mentor" Mavis into being more of a cow dog.
Time will tell.

Till then I will bring Mavis with me on my visits to this diversified farm and will continue to eat lots of fabulous, healthy emu meat. Try some!!

Here are some unusual facts about Emu:

http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/animals/facts-emu.htm

http://www.naturalemu.com/emufacts.htm < some facts about the delicious emu meat
Has more iron than any other meat on the planet. Since a large % of women are iron deficient, I highly recommend eating emu. It really makes a difference!

~

Cow Brains

2011-12-26T18:50:00.000-05:00

Christmas Snow Barns

2011-12-25T15:30:00.000-05:00

I woke up to a beautiful dusting of snow all over the rural landscape of this mountain area this morning. It is snowing, quietly and gently. Perfect snow. Perfect day.

As I drove to visit friends, I stopped to take photos of as many barns and "dusted" tractors as possible.

Enjoy the tour.

Old equipment waiting to go back to work in June.

Mules & Yules

2011-12-24T12:43:00.001-05:00

From my Barn to yours.......

Have a safe & healthy Holiday.

~

Church Secrets

2011-12-23T19:02:00.000-05:00

In the church I attend there is now a big Christmas tree taking up an entire corner of the church.

It is Vermont grown and is big, green, wonderfully fragrant and covered with all kinds of decorations.

It is a tradition in the church that the legendary church mouse be continually hidden around the church to see who can find it.

Well, I found him.

He was "out on a limb" amongst the decorations.

I almost missed him.

Our very own Church Mouse is well traveled and seems very happy.

I wonder where he will be next week.

Have you got a Church Mouse ?

Ewes & Devons

2011-12-18T20:03:00.001-05:00

I got a tour of a local farm today when I went to pick up a side of lamb that I purchased.

This farm family raises Katadin sheep, Devon beef cattle and maple syrup.

Below are their yearling ewes

Their barn is set up for the comfort and safety of their livestock

Really beautiful ewes.

The herd of Devons came into the barn to visit with me.

These Devons do really well on grass.

They have a wonderful temperment and do well in Vermont.

They make fabulous oxen too.

I was hoping one of them would "follow me home."

There is such a wonderful diversity of farms and livestock in this area.

Can't wait to cook up some of the lamb.

Anyone have any good recipes?

~

The Season of Guests and Surprises

2011-12-17T14:22:00.000-05:00

There are lots of great events in this region during the holiday season. Many of them include food and meeting new people.

The conversations are wonderful and the food is all locally grown and d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.

The toughest part of these little get-togethers is saying good bye and then trying to find your shoes....

I have noticed a lot of interesting kinds of socks the past few weeks......

~

Barns of December

2011-12-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

The sun was out and the snow has held off a little bit.

A few barns in Northern Vermont were waiting for my camera today.

The rural landscape is quiet this time of year.

Most of the equipment has been stored in barns and the cattle have been brought closer to home from the mountain meadows.

Area farms are very quiet and enjoying the time to rest, repair equipment, feed livestock and get ready for the holidays.

Its good to see so many working barns and small farms dotting the landscape these days.

More and more people are coming to Vermont to purchase small farms and raise vegetables, fruit or livestock.

Lots of room for new farmers here.

Lots of barns and pastures that need new owners and new ideas.

~

Dogs Welcome

2011-12-08T17:43:00.000-05:00

One of the best adventures I have been on this year was to the very unique Dog Mountain.

My favorite thing about this wonderful place are all the welcome signs for dogs.

It is something I have never seen in other places.

The Dog Mountain buildings are all handmade and very unique.

There is an art gallery and a chapel.

Lots of details in every aspect of the buildings.

Even the fences have hearts and dog heads on them.

Unusual weathervanes are on all the buildings.

Again, all handmade by the same artist.

The art gallery is FULL of unusual art and other fun stuff.

Very unusal stuff....

Lots of books, art work and carvings.

The signs that fill the walls are wonderful.

More weathervanes and dog heads on the roof overlooking the valley and mountains:

Angel dog weathervanes:

Shirts and more art. Great sayings.

Bureaus and side tables.

Lots of whimsey at this place. You have to keep walking around and looking carefully to find it all.

The chapel is so very unusual.

From the outside to the inside

One-of-a-kind door knobs

A cat..... and walls full of notes from dog owners all over the world, to their beloved deceased pets.

everything in this chapel was made by the same artist. All of it.

Golden church pews

The stained glass windows say it all:

I ventured back to the gallery and found even more carvings and unusual stuff.

As a former long term parochial school student I have much appreciation for nuns.

Nuns exposed. Creative cabinets. For DVD players, books, or drinks.

I laughed myself silly over this one.

How many want a few of these really nice doorknobs?

The other buildings on the property are old, well kept and fit in well with the landscape that surrounds it.

The old dairy barn is now a working art studio where all the interesting carvings and art work are made.

I like old doors.

But especially old barns!

At the far end of the barn is a drive-up to the hay loft and a wonderful ancient wooden silo.

There are less and less of these kind of silos every year, as they rot and fall to the ground.

Not many people can afford to rehab the silos to their former glory, so I really appreciate what few of them are left and I try hard to take a photo of everyone that I discover.

Lots of info, and events, at the Dog Mountain website;

Dog Mountain in St Johnsbury, Vermont

Go there for a visit and bring your dogs!!!

Pumpkin Heads @ Billings Farm

2011-12-01T08:51:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of attending a private screening of the movie "Buck" last night. The movie won an award at the Sundance festival earlier this year and I certainly agree it was well deserved. The movie is a documentary about the gentle Natural Horsemanship horse trainer Buck Brannaman. If the movie comes to your town, GO SEE IT.

The movie was held at the very unusual Billings Farm in Woodstock Vermont.
Billings Farm is the only national park dedicated to farming.
It is a living museum. They also have an award winning herd of Jersey cows and several draft teams.

They were also very impacted by Hurricane Irene. Their bridges were destroyed, their fields damaged and their tourists trapped at the farm for a few days. The visitors got to milk cows, collect eggs and do farm chores until the river subsided.

See more Billings Farm info at:

http://www.billingsfarm.org/

After the movie I toured the big barn where equipment and exhibits from the last 2 centuries are housed.

There was an incredible display of unusual pumpkins on the first floor of the museum barn that I pored over for a long time. Click on the photos to see them even better.

I have never seen many of these varieties of pumpkins before and I sure wish I had some of the seeds!!!

This particular pumpkin really got my attention.

I found some great info online about these Pink Banana Squash on how to cook them and how big and productive they are, so I am gonna plant me some!

http://seedsbyfaith.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/autumn-pumpkin-pie-made-with-heirloom-banana-squash/

There were a hundred unusual pumpkins and squash.

It was also nice to see a few of the ones that I grew this summer: Turban, Delicata, Carnival, Jack Be Little and Sweet Dumpling.

Then I started walking around the other exhibits and saw an 1880's farm workshop and noticed many many items that some of our Vermont farmers still use.

Here was the treasure: this is how the oxen yokes were shaped for hundreds of years.

My neighbors are still doing it this way, down the road.

You may recognize some of the items in this shop...

The field equipment exhibit was fascinating.

I learned what these unusual items were.

Can you guess?

Click on the photo to see it larger, and then make a guess.

Bog shoes. Ever heard of them ? Here is the info:

The whetstone is above the cowhorn.

Here is the ancient mower with metal wheels.

( my farmer friends STILL are using these...I am not kidding!!!!)

There were many exhibits dedicated to preparing the soil, planting the crops, and harvesting and feeding the livestock. One can view the life of the farm wife, visit a town meeting, attend a rural school, or stop by the crossroads general store. For the visitor who has ever wondered about boiling sap and sugaring, ice cutting, cheese making, butter making or the importance of orchards and cider making, these are all part of the exhibit experience.

I could of spent another 3 hours there... but I looked around and noticed that the crowds were gone, the lights were going off and there was silence. Time to head home.

I will definitely return to explore the dairy barn, the farm house and to again crawl amongst some of the best farm exhibits I have ever seen.

I can not wait to phone my old farm boss, Bob, and tell him he has museum quality farm equipment !!

Wild Game Dinner

2011-11-25T20:59:00.001-05:00

My reward for working at the local farmers market for my neighbor, was a ticket to the 56th annual Wild Game Dinner that was held a few towns over from me.

Five of us very hungry farmers ventured to this well known and well advertised town tradition for the very first time.

The lines of people came down the steps, down the sidewalk and around the corner.

There was reserved seating for every hour from 4 pm- 8pm.

A thousand tickets had been sold.

There were 200 volunteers making this big event run smoothly.

Within 20 minutes of us arriving, our part of the line got into the huge church where all you could smell was food being grilled and all you could hear was the dixieland band of Strawberry Jam playing great tunes.

Our ticket numbers were called and we went downstairs to the big room under the church where hundreds of people were serving, sitting, eating and exclaiming how great the food was.

We got a real plate as soon as we came thru the door.

As I pushed my plate along the long counter top, many volunteers placed portions of hot food on my plate. I noticed the military precision and all the men doing the cooking in the church kitchen.

I got samples of everything ON the menu plus a few items that were NOT on the menu.....such as rabbit pot pie. bear chilli, rabbit liver pate, duck sausage, varieties of gravies, stews, etc.

The line moved fast as people were eager to get a seat and eat!

All the meat was coded with various color toothpicks. At the end of the food line you were handed a cheat sheet that explained what you were eating.

My farmer friend, who got me the ticket, raised the emu on the menu. He got alot of compliments on it that night. It was melt-in-your-mouth perfect!

My plate was filled fast and I headed to the table, barely able to juggle the plate, camera, and smell all the delicious smells in the air around us.

People who sat at our table came from Ohio with all their relatives. Its their family tradition for 30 years now. Similar stories were heard during the evenings festivities. People may move out of Vermont but they all come back to this particular wild game supper. I can undertand why now.

What a production!

Our waitress says it takes a year of planning to bring it all together. Remember that it takes 200 volunteers to make it run. Most of it is crowd control outside and cooking and serving food plus going around pouring fresh apple cider, hot coffee and milk ( I drank almost a gallon ). There are a dozen dish washers, table cleaners, table setters and spice cake makers. The details are everywhere.

All the meat was local except for the buffalo. It was shipped from out West.

There were also an army of cooks in the parking lot grilling wild boar sausage and venison.

Another group of cooks were just making gravies of every kind imaginable.

My group put the cheat sheet away and tried to guess what each meat was.

It was a really great time. The food was grilled to perfection PLUS there was all you could eat mashed potatoes, squash, home made baked bread and spice cake with real whipped cream. Every thing was from local farms from within FIVE miles away!!!

We suddenly realized that were eating much of the same items that the pilgrims, and the early settlers in this area, ate when they first arrived: A variety of wild game that came from within a 5 mile area.

Flavorful, colorful and filling. The bear chilli is in the round cup.

Here is the short menu. Doesn't include all the other "off menu" items......

If you ever get a chance to go to one of these, GO!!

Bring your appetite and a good group of friends and family.

It is a once in a lifetime experience.

~

Thankful

2011-11-24T20:20:00.002-05:00

Thankful to have family and friends around me today.

Its a really good day to take inventory of ones own life.

This entire week I have tried hard to contact all the good people in my life.

Life is so short and it is important to stay in touch with those who really matter.

Thank you to all my blog friends, home pals, garden gals, cow lovers, dog women, rural farmers, disaster teams, church folks and village librarians who leave great messages in the comments section, send funny emails, gift me with cherished heritage seeds, tolerate my humorous stories and share their lives with me.

Its all greatly appreciated.
~

Early Cactus

2011-11-20T10:44:00.001-05:00

My Christmas cactus has bloomed a whole month early this year.

Was it influenced by WalMart (they started playing Christmas music on OCTOBER 30th!)

Global warming ?

Are your cactus blooming ?

~

Cheese Head

2011-11-15T19:18:00.005-05:00

My monthly Garden Club meeting turned into a cheesemaking class.

Better yet, the cheese class was held at a house that is made out of straw.

The tour and information of how the 1000 square foot house was built and how everything in the house is recyclable and "green" was fasinating.

The frame of the house is a peg and beam frame from an old 1852 farmhouse that was being torn down.

Most interesting was that the home owners use a very simple composting toilet, that they use to fertilize their garden. Of course everyone at the meeting wanted to know all the poop on this. More about this later.

The cheese we learned to make is Queso Blanco ( Spanish for "white cheese.")

It is a tasty, incredibly useful soft cheese that is very very simple to make. You can use goat or cows milk, raw or pasturized. It still comes out great and yummy!

DIRECTIONS

In a double boiler, over a direct source of heat warm 1 gallon of milk to 190-194 degrees F, stirring often to keep it from scorching. Stir in the 1/2 cup of vinegar, remove the milk from the heat source and allow it to stand undisturbed for 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes, stir the entire pot of cheese while it is still hot so the cheese proteins won't rebond and turn into a big ball of cheese.

Pour off the whey and save it to feed it to your hens and pigs or add it to your next bread recipe.

This is what the curds look like after most of the whey is drained off.

Some people then put this pot full of curds into cheesecloth to drain

(But we did not.)

At this point you can decide how wet you want the curds.

You can press the rest of the whey out with a wooden spoon and eat it as it is, like this.

Salt is standard and it preserves the cheese longer. Garlic and dill are nice too.

We ate a great deal of the loose curds in the bowl and then we put the rest of the curds into a strainer and patted it down to get even more whey out.

When the strainer was turned over, the cheese popped out perfectly molded into a nice shape.

Beautiful and very tasty.

Great in salads, lasagna, enchilladas, everything!!

( I put some on eggs tonight)

Takes a total of 15 minutes to make. Even I can do it and I am a legendary disaster in the kitchen.

All you really need is a special cheese or dairy thermometer.

Don't use aluminum containers to heat milk. Use stainless steel.

For more info and another simiar recipe:

http://www.food.com/recipe/queso-blanco-cheese-119431#ixzz1ddL23MQl

As we ate cheese and other pot luck snacks that we had all brought, I picked up 2 books that were on the couch and started reading.

Both books have incredible infomation in them and I just could not put them down!!

My librarian is going to order them for our village libary and I am going to read them from cover to cover.

So many things to learn!!

Anyone using a composting toilet ? How is it working for you? Any suggestions or tips ?

What made you decide to make the switch ?

Hay Heads

2011-11-13T08:52:00.001-05:00

Winter has officially started for us farmers that have run out of grazing fields.

The cows have meandered up to the barnyard from the fields and it is time to start feeding hay.

The herd had fun destroying 2 old bales that have been sitting out for a couple of months.

The cows flung the hay all over each other.

Like a bunch of little kids throwing birthday cake in a wild celebration.

As they grazed around the barnyard they also got burdock entwined in their heads and ears.

Which made them look like they were indeed at a wild party.

I have never figured out why they prefer old hay to new hay.

or why they have such fun destroying the first few bales of the season.

Is it just my cows that do this or do your cows do the same thing ?

11 11 11

2011-11-11T10:04:00.000-05:00

The Persistant Gardner

2011-11-09T20:15:00.000-05:00

Winter is banging on my door and I just can't stop growing stuff. I can not give up.

My brussell sprouts are going strong. Had a bunch for supper tonight.

My brussel sprout tree looks like a Charlie Brown christmas tree. Maybe I will put some lights on it next month.

I planted lettuce, indoors, tonight. I love fresh salad in the winter.

Soon I will be growing sprouts for salads too.

I also have a "secret garden" in my garage. My geraniums are growing great in the sunlight and my sunflower heads are drying out and getting ready to be winter feed for the birds that visit my porch for seeds and suet. There are 50 heads in variuos stages of drying.

It is hard to give in to winter.

Are you growing anything ?

~

Weaning Time

2011-11-07T18:26:00.000-05:00

The spring born calves are almost as large as their moms. They have gained all their weight on milk and meadow....and a few boxes of cinnamon covered graham crackers.

The grass will run out in the next several weeks. Snow will be here soon and it will get deep quickly.

Its time to wean the calves and find buyers for "the kids."

They are ready to go to their new homes and continue growing.

The heifers will be breeding stock for new grass fed beef producers.

The steers will be going to a "cooler environment" next September after one more lush summer of grass, grass and more grass.

So, if you are looking for some calm cows to bring home and begin your future with productive livestock, you might want to come meet this herd. We love visitors.

~

The Neighbor's Scottish Cows

2011-11-02T17:57:00.003-04:00

Since there are many Scottish Highland cattle admirers here, I am posting some photos I took recently ( the day before the snow) of the neighbors herd.

This herd eats hay most of the year since they do not have fields to graze. ( I always tell my cows how lucky they are to be on pasture !)

Since the landscape of Vermont is very similar to Scotland, these animals do really well here.

In fact, Scottish immigrants settled some of the towns in this area and some brought their animals with them. The southern half of one town was purchased in 1773 by two agents for the Scotch American Company of Farmers from Renfrew and Lanark, Scotland, whose members began settlement in 1774.

I enjoy looking at all the colors of the herd.

The damage these big horned animals do to the hay racks always has me wondering how the owner affords to constantly replace them.

This nice looking blonde cow was curious and came over to visit......

and give me the "hairy" eyeball......

All the corn on all the area farms have been chopped and put in silos and bunkers for the long winter ahead. With the tall corn gone it really opens up the landscape to other views..... Like white horses and red barns.

I am fortunate to live amongst hundreds of farms and thousands of acres of rural lands.

There is always something to see.

Hope you are all keeping your eyes out looking for the "Ag" in your own areas.

Snow Grazing - Trick or Treat ?

2011-10-30T14:02:00.001-04:00

Last night was so quiet as the snow fell and this morning it was a winter wonderland here.

Miraculously we still had power and heat.

The cows had lots to say as I hiked through the field to move them to another field.

They wanted hay and were getting ready to head for the hay storage area.

As I walked closer, they gave me " the look." Which translates to: "Drop THIS side of the fence down so we can stroll down to the hay barn."

I tried to explain to them that there were acres of good nutritious grass, right under the snow, that had been stockpiled for their dining pleasure. They weren't buying it and instead crowded down to the end of the field heading to the hay.

I dropped the fence down into the new field and they reluctantly came my way slowly.... and then started running to get there first.

They quickly got down to the business of grazing the green lush grass that was beneath the Halloween snow.

Not more than 5 inches of snow covered their fresh lunch.

My friends in NH got 20 inches of snow on their fields and their cows are now eating hay 3 weeks earlier than normal. $$$

The sky looks like more snow could fall, but the sun keeps peeking out every so often, so its hard to say how the rest of the day might be.

The cows have lots of feed and tomorrow they continue their rotation to another field and then another and another.

This is Glory's first snow and she is a bit confused as to what is going on.....

The rest of the spring born calves are taking it in stride.

While the herd was chowing down on their cold lunch, the local deer were munching on sweet apples.

The empty corn fields look much different than they did yesterday.

The neighbors milking herd of Holsteins are out snow grazing too.

No one can afford to start feeding expensive hay until all possible grazing areas have been depleted.

Up and down the Valley many other cows are outside having a cold nutritious lunch today.

This is New England and as usual the weather will change again soon.

I am eagerly waiting for "Indian Summer."

Happy SnowTober to you all!

Last Day Before the Snow Arrives

2011-10-29T20:33:00.002-04:00

There is a big storm brewing.     Its a Nor'Easter coming this way.

I spent last week in an intense training program about Agricultural Medicine and Occupational Safety.   A few times we were in class 14 hours a day.
My head spins with all the information I learned.    The books, notes and manual weigh 50 lbs.

The location for the final training was picturesque and calm.       I needed it.

Beautiful waterfowl visited often.

I don't think this is a loon. Anyone know what it is?

The fog rolls in every afternoon

It was great to get back to the herd and the last of the green grass.

I hope we don't get socked too badly with the snow.

For everyone in the storms way-- THINK SMART, STAY SAFE.

~

Mountains & Farm Markets

2011-10-24T10:57:00.001-04:00

The cows greet me in the morning for their treats. Some are a bit more pushy than others....

The neighbors multicolored Scottish Highland cattle

Local farmers are harvesting and selling all kinds of veggies and fruits before Mother Nature brings the snow and ice.

A well built barn with morning glories climbing up the front.

A huge cow weathervane. Copper, with a great udder.

A real farm road with farms, tractors and farm markets all on one road.

Shades of green on the fields as farmers continue to harvest hay. The mountains are turning purple.

Clouds are moving back in. More rain coming.

This cooler weather makes me crave hot apple cider and doughnuts.

The autumn church suppers are going to be starting very soon in this very rural area.

I can hardly wait.

~

Friday With Cows

2011-10-21T22:55:00.004-04:00

The rain has temporarily stopped. The sun has come out from the clouds and the grass is still growing. The cows are still happily grazing the fields.

The calves have grown strong and muscular and are acting more like their adult herd mates.

Many leaves have been blown away by the storms and wind, but the trees are still stunning.

Wish they would last for months.

Lots of great old barns look great surrounded by autumn color.

Jillian has grown into a very calm, gentle gal. She has good manners when asking me for crackers and now understands several commands, especially the critical "back up."
Jillian is Wanda's 2010 calf. She is as mellow as her mom.

Wanda is still the cow whom everyone asks me about. She stands out in the herd. Not just for her brilliant color, but for other reasons as well.
Wanda follows turkeys, pigeons and planes and sometimes forgets to come when she is called to come to the upper field because she is slowly following a caterpillar or a grasshopper in the tall grass. Nothing escapes her curiosity.

~ She is one of a kind.

Fall in Vermont

2011-10-15T21:00:00.002-04:00

The big question around here is when will the rain stop?

Big storm late this afternoon and the wind was blowing hard.

Blew the flower pots off the front porch and millions of leaves danced off the trees and across the fields.

The local round barn

Fields of painted trees

Waiting for apples and squash

The grass is still green and lush.

The bulls "date of the day."

Wet moms and calves

Mountainsides of color

Hope you are all enjoying the cooler weather and the fabulous colors

Pumpkin Pups

2011-09-29T15:33:00.001-04:00

Every day I am getting a bumper crop of pumpkins and squash.

The squash vines have made a long path through tall grass and over the little stream.

The colors in the garden are just fabulous. Every vegetable contributing their own unique color to the food rainbow.

Mavis likes to lay down where ever I start stacking the garden harvest for the day.

Lots of swiss chard, green and yellow sweet peppers, red hot peppers and carrots are still producing well.

The trees in the neighborhood are also starting to "fire up" as well.

The herd continues to enjoy the bounties from the garden and from friend's apple trees.

Happy Cows eat Vermont garden snacks.

~ Life is Good

Trees of Color & Covered Bridges

2011-09-24T21:23:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day for exploring the northern parts of Vermont. Many of the roads have been repaired from Irene, and are ready for eager explorers.
I grabbed my Kleenex ( I have a killer cold) and headed for the remote areas that have the most colors and hidden treasures.

Lots of John Deere traffic greeted me as I got off the highway. Its always a pleasure to see farmers headed to their fields early in the morning.

I found an old covered bridge, undamaged from the storm, on a rural road.

Identical to the bridge in Bartonsville that vanished in the flood.

I had to walk around this beautiful historical structure.

Found the waterfall, the cold pools and amazing rocks.

The river is 4 times the width it was before the flooding 3 weeks ago.

Hundreds of trees were swept away from this area near the bridge, giant boulders tumbled into new places and formed this new waterfall.

My photos don't do it justice.

With all the trees and top soil gone, all the boulders are now exposed. Probably the way it was a few hundred years ago.

Its still beautiful.

This is the quiet little area under the bridge, with cold crystal clear water, and where baby trout dart around in the shadows of the bridge.

Mavis and I did some rock hunting, trout watching and leaf peeping

Some folks were fly casting in the pools down stream.

We are all desperate to find some big trout. Irene washed most everything out and sent it downstream all the way to other states.

Lots of color everywhere. The fog and cooler nights are making the hills and valleys a photographers dream.

The sunset tonight was just as spectacular as the colors on the mountains.

Fall in Vermont is breathtaking. Come enjoy it.

Treats from Irene

2011-09-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

As folks clean up their yards of broken branches and destroyed gardens from the winds and rains of Hurricane Irene, my cows are reaping the benefits.
Neighbors are giving me their giant squash and other veggies as they start the process of putting their gardens to bed for the season, just a little bit early.

Its alot less expensive to give the herd these treats as opposed to buying their favored cinnimon graham crackers in bulk.
I use a big ice chopper to slice the squash into smaller pieces for the girls. They like them "bite sized."

There is much slobbering and crunching every evening as I prepare the treats.

Even the bull has aquired a taste for the veggies and apples.

I am getting wheelbarrels full of Macintosh apples that were blown down from Irene.

This is my local "apple fairy" filling my buckets so I can go make my herd happy.

I also grab a few for myself for lunch.

I am also experiencing a bumper crop of carrots too.

The calves are learning how to eat all these different treats.

They now run over to me when they see me chopping stuff up on the road.

In the morning when they hear my truck coming down the road the herd runs to the fence hoping for an apple breckfast.

If you have an abundance of veggies or fruit bring them to your local farmer for the cows, pigs, goats, chickens, sheep, etc.

Every little bit helps.

Silent Sunday

2011-09-12T21:17:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was such a solemn day that even the sunflowers bowed their mighty heads.

My tradition for the past 10 years is to spend this day on the water or in the woods surrounded by nature.

Yesterday I headed to a secluded lake and explored its treasures.

There were no other boats in sight, the lake was all mine.

I saw huge fish in the crystal clear waters and watched giant snails leave snail trails in the mud.

The only sound was the breeze through the trees and the splashing of turtles as they dove off their logs and rocks.

The sun peaked out of the clouds and helped reveal beautiful colors on the sunbathers.

As I kayaked up the lake I saw, in the distance, a solo water bird. I could not believe my luck!

In a few minutes the soloist was swimming parallel to me. Handsome and very quiet.

It was a thrill to be on a beautiful lake with a bachelor Loon.

As I drove home I heard a very familiar sound coming towards me.

Canada geese honking as they head South, as the sun set on a day we will never forget.

9/11/11

2011-09-11T20:13:00.001-04:00

The Aftermath

2011-09-10T19:05:00.000-04:00

Seems like months since August 28th.

Irene's damage has impacted everyone.

So many dairy cattle, beef cows, pigs, sheep, poultry and goats were swept away in the flash floods.

Many vegetable, fruit and hay farmers are out of business now because their once fertile fields now have new rivers that changed course and are now permanent fixtures on their destroyed property. Green fields have been replaced with millions of river rocks per square yard of land.  All the topsoil washed away.

Many homes, businesses and historic covered bridges are gone.

Irene must of been a relative of Katrina...

Some rebuilding will take years, other rebuilding will take decades. Most farmers who are victims of the floods will never live to ever see another crop on their rock covered, baren land.

And now fall is arriving.   Quietly.   Unnoticed.

So many volunteers are helping the flood victims.

Many fund raisers are being held to help the victims.    Lots of people helping people. Every day here.

Noone has noticed the leaves are falling, the colors are changing, the air is getting cooler......

Too much to do. Change is in the air.

~

Irene's Wrath

2011-08-29T20:56:00.009-04:00

This was the morning that neighbors checked on neighbors, long distance friends devotedly contacted their pals in Vermont and adult daughters called their mothers.      People from surrounding communities came to help clean up the damage, console home owners, rent chainsaws, drain water filled cellars and help farmers salvage crops from their fields.

What a horrible couple of days it has been.   Although we stayed upbeat about the impending impact of Irene, none of us fully understood what was going to happen til she got here.   Although I can personally attest to 3 solid days of anxiety about water levels and livestock, even I could not have predicted the true outcome.

Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time she hit the quaint and quiet little state of Vermont.

By the time she left she had rearranged the landscape, destroyed 200 year old historical covered bridges and eliminated many major roads.    Many residents barely escaped the flash floods with their lives.

Sirens could be heard in distant communities all night.

Eleven towns were made into islands in an instant, surrounded by flood waters from multiple brooks and streams that had turned into oceans of turbulent water, with no way out. They are still cut off from the rest of the state.

263 roads are closed or destroyed.   A large percentage of bridges are closed, damaged or missing.

Many residents are still without power. Some no longer have a house to return to.

The complete assessment of damage, commercially, agriculturally and personally will take weeks.

Last night Irene went right over this old 200 year old farm house. Water poured into the cellar.

This morning the sun woke me up immediately as it streamed into my window.   I quickly drove to the herd and saw that they had finally ventured all the way out to the field to graze. Life was back to normal, even though the fields are soggy and the air is filled with the sounds of rushing streams.

The bull, exhausted from trying to breed cows in extreme weather, was laying down recovering from a weekend of bad dates...

The deer and turkeys have all returned to the fields to graze.
The hummingbirds and goldfinches never left the bird feeders the entire time. Not for a second.

Mavis slept for 2 solid days and would not go outside in the rain.

Even though I fulfilled my list of preparedness things I had to get done, the only thing I wish I could of done before the strom hit was get another big jar of Miracle Whip.
Tomatoe sandwiches really gotta have it and that was what we had planned to eat if the electricity didn't come back on.

Now for some of the worst Vermont videos:

If you haven't seen this video of the river sucking the huge 141 year old Rockingham covered bridge into the river, here it is:

http://youtu.be/ck7Xtxo2ZQU

Just found out that this bridge was insured for 1 million dollars and will eventually be rebuilt, but not in time for leaf peepers this year.

A horse and rider carried medical necessities to the other side of the washed out area in Rockingham:

http://youtu.be/jaPRZd7gvJc

And the Quechee covered bridge:

http://youtu.be/-Bd6odFBo30

Northfield Falls covered bridge barely survived:

http://www.mobypicture.com/user/HeidiAmes/view/10583739

Bridges floating under bridges:

http://youtu.be/thFGCs7ZxxU

Here is what the covered bridges all looked like before Irene came:

http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/vt/vt_county.html

I appreciate all the calls checking on our welbeing up here in rural Vermont.

Also I am grateful for many National and Regional Disaster Animal Response Teams for contacting me for assessments and information.

Noahs Wish (noahswish.org) and the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts (acoam.org) were very concerned for the people and animals of Vermont and were waiting to assist in any way necessary.

Today is the 6th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. (Hurricanes Rita and Wilma too)

Thank you to everyone who came to assist the people and the animals of the Gulf Coast.

Please light a candle tonight for those who lost their lives during all these storms and for those whose lives have been changed forever.

Irene is 20 miles away

2011-08-28T20:48:00.001-04:00

Its been raining hard for 17 hours now.

Flooding everywhere.

Now the rain is coming down so much harder than it has all day. And the wind is here now.
Storm Trac says Irene is right down the road from us. She will be over our heads in about 25 minutes.

I have been checking on the herd throughout the day.

Their field is getting soggy.

I was relieved to see that Guy had found his way back to the correct side of the fence.

The herd came over to the fence to get some more giant squash.

I pray that we do not get the bad winds.

The flooding is very very very bad here already.

Worse yet.....
Several historic covered bridges have disappeared into flood waters. Including my favorite fishing place in Bartonsville. The video of the huge bridge sliding into the raging river is heartbreaking to me.

I hope at sunrise we are all still standing and not swimming......

~~

Hurricane Cows

2011-08-28T11:35:00.003-04:00

The rain arrived quietly at 1 am this morning.

At 9 am it came down harder.

I went down to the herd just as the wind started. It was just a hard breeze. Not a damaging wind--yet...

The herd are now on the highest and driest part of the farm. Lots of grass to eat and some protection from the wind.

The first thing I saw as I drove up to them was that Guy,Y-1, was on the wrong side of the fence.

Don't know how he got out and I wasn't going to dismantle the fence to get him back in, so there he stays till he figures out how to go back to his mom. He has lots to eat on "his side' of the fence.

The herd was calm in the rain.

But they were defiinately wanting some treats.

So, because there was a Hurricane coming, and because I had a 12 year old guest who had never fed cows before and because I just happened to have 2 full boxes of cinnamon covered nabisco graham crackers--the cows had an Irene feast.

My camera got soaked as we opened and fed 6 packages of snacks.

As we were feeding the cow, the wind started getting stronger and the rain came down harder.

I know the cows will be OK. The raging stream is now 1/8th of a mile away from them.

I will go back later to check on them again.

Parts of Vermont are flooding, especially in the southern part of the state. 8 emergency shelters have opened and some evacuations are taking place.

Many roads are already closed because of flooding and Irene isn't even here yet.

The electricity has already gone out a few times this morning....

Hope you and your animals are high and dry.

Pre-Irene Preparations

2011-08-27T21:21:00.000-04:00

Its been a marathon kind of day. Trying to get every last detail accomplished before Irene comes barelling into Vermont.

I emptied the big porch of all the beautiful flowers and furniture. I left the hummingbird and finch feeders up so the little ones can eat until the last possible moment.

Anticipating that my garden will be decimated from the winds and rain, I went to pick as many big green tomatoes as possible.

I then looked at Dr Rowe's rare heritage beans hanging from the bean pole and knew I had to do something.....

Either I pick them or Irene will.

So I did.

They are such beautiful bean pods.

And they make beautiful beans too.

I picked some prematurely, but they are young and tender. Perfect for suckatash.

While I was picking veggies I also checked on all the squash and found some real pretty ones under the giant vines and leaves.

I *think* these are Turk's Turban.

Very colorful!

I took a few last photos of my garden.

I know the winds and rain will roll off the mountains and do some serious damage in this tiny rural village.

I have checked off 79 things I had to get done before tonight and all but one has been accomplished.

Tomorrow morning the herd is being moved to the driest piece of field, the one with the best drainage, with trees on the outside of the fences and the strongest fencing on the farm. They will be away from the giant powerlines, the barn, the equipment and the stream. Those are all the items we have determined that are dangerous in high winds and rain.
There are predictions that we may get 8 inches of rain. I have rain trauma...
Last Fall, after 4 days of unrelenting rain, the culvert in the pond above the cow field burst and caused massive damage to roads. The raging river started a mudslide and pushed a house right off its foundation. The house has been condemmed and the road is STILL being repaired.

So I do not want my cows anywhere near that stream.

Today they were still grazing, totally unaware of what is going to happen.

Gwen is in a very good mood.

She is the current "date of the day" of the bull.

Being with the herd, even for an hour, really helps to keep me calm, focused and happy.

I hope that every thing in the path of Irene stays safe.

~~

The Calm Before the Storm

2011-08-26T23:42:00.001-04:00

The herd grazed calmly this afternoon.

Blue skys and a gentle breeze distracted us from the big weather upset that will be here on Sunday.

The bull continues to do his important job.

The calves are growing quickly on the good grass.

Tomorrow the herd will be moved to a safer pasture.     All farmers in Vermont are trying to make the best decisions for their livestock.

Preparations continue tomorrow.   Still lots to do.   Hope you have all made preparations and plans.

Today I could not stop thinking about the Chincoteague and Assateague Ponies plus all the other wild ponies on the Outer Banks.        I always worry about them during every storm.

I do hope they can survive Irene.

~

IRENE

2011-08-25T11:50:00.000-04:00

It is dark and windy here this morning.
The sky was red at dawn.

My disaster teams have put me on "alert" status.

Vermont has a tendency to flood and we are also anticipating that our sister state, New Hampshire, may need assistance.

Today my own personal disaster plan is in full swing.

I have filled containers with water, tied up my sunflowers, removed all my big tomatoes, took down my scarecrow, stored all my outside furniture in the garage and am going to tank up my truck.

We are planning on riding out the storm here at the farm.

Haven't determined yet if the cows would do better in the field or in the woods.

Here are a few other things you should be doing to get ready for the uninvited visitor, Irene:

Before the hurricane:

Check your emergency supplies and replace or restock as needed. Your disaster kit should contain items such as gallons of water, non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food and sanitation and personal hygiene items. More information about what you should include is available on the Red Cross web site. http://www.redcross.org/
Create an evacuation plan with members of your household and practice it to cut down on any confusion.
Plan routes to your community’s shelters, register family members with special needs as required.
Make plans for your pets and livestock.

If a hurricane is predicted for your area:

Bring items inside that can be picked up by the wind.
Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings and keep them closed as much as possible so food will last longer if the power goes out.
Turn off any propane tanks and unplug your small appliances.
Fill your vehicle’s gas tank.
Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you don’t have hurricane shutters, close and board up your windows and doors with plywood.
Listen to local authorities and evacuate if advised to do so. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.
Know where your nearest emergency shelter is

Here is another excellant map to track Irene:

http://www.stormpulse.com/atlantic

She has moved a little more West, which isn't good for any of us : (

Bear vs. Corn

2011-08-23T22:23:00.000-04:00

Lots of great farm stand signs in this state.

Here are a few of the ones I found today.

One of the largest fresh beef farm stands.

My favorite sign. I am still chickling over this one.

My herd greets me each time I enter the field.

A very sweet ride outside my grain store.

I pray they sell raffle tickets on this one!!

I hope they get this truck under cover before Hurricane Irene comes to visit!!

Cowdog Mavis......

2011-08-19T21:53:00.000-04:00

Every morning I move the herd to a new field. I bring Mavis to "help" me.

This morning most of the calves watched as Mavis and I walked up the road.

As we walked across the field the calves "focused" on the familiar little black dog.

Instead of Mavis helping me move the herd to the new field, the calves starting playing a game of "Lets chase Mavis."

And chase her they did.

All the way out of the field.

Being the good, faithful companion that Mavis is, she made her way around the field and found me at the other end of it. She sat and rested, satisfied that the calves were now on the "other" side of the electric fence in the new field.

Then she went home and took a long nap. Good Girl, Mavis.

John Deere Cows

2011-08-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

It was foggy this morning when I moved the herd to a new field. Fall is in the air.

As I drove to work I explored a rural road and found an unusual mailbox.

And some beautiful cows.

I walked over some downed trees to take some photos....and then....

I sneezed....and started a stampede.....

I felt the earth move as they thundered in the other direction, udders swinging wildly.

They settled down at the other end of the field, so I got a few more photos and left before I sneezed again.

I often wonder why some farmers don't paint a green cow, using green food coloring.

There is no doubt this is John Deere country!

Blue Ponies

2011-08-12T10:33:00.000-04:00

On a rural back road I found one of the last remaining carousels and its magnificent horses.

This is where the magic starts for children.

And where young girls start their obsession with horses.......

So many to ride

The Merry Go Round of my childhood had dogs, pigs, ducks, chickens, goats, sheep and....cows.

My dad would strap me on my cow or dog and he would ride alongside of me singing to the music.

When I rode on other carousels, I always rode on a blue pony.

Blue ponies were rare and I loved them.

And sometimes I would ride a red one.

Because I thought they were faster.

Which one did you ride ?

August Barns

2011-08-10T09:06:00.000-04:00

An unfinished paint job on a 150 year old barn

This barn has had a recent facelift.

Plus a new paint job.

Needs some window repair.

A really ancient piece of barn jewelry.

Happy cows at the end of my day.

Cows & Contraptions

2011-08-08T11:04:00.000-04:00

I got lost one day and ended up finding this unsual collection of old agricultural equipment on top of a little mountain. It was a half acre of row after row of really old farm machinery from the early 1900's.

Can you identify any of them?

Funny thing is, I am still using some of this old stuff on a daily basis.

Found lots of friendly cows, but they couldn't tell me where I was or how far I was to a paved road with signs.

I found a cabin and pulled in after deciding they must have some agricultural heritage in them and might help me get back on the right path.

I got pointed in the right direction, made a new friend and I was on my way !

On the way there were more old barns, ( this one has double wooden silos) and more farm equipment spilled all over barnyards and roads.

Its always good to get home at the end of the day.

Notes from The Field

2011-08-07T17:51:00.002-04:00

My farmer friend has planted dozens of acres of sunflowers to make bio-fuel and cattle feed.

I love driving down the road to see all the sunflowers smiling at me.

My friends dog had 10 super smart Golden Retriever puppies.

How many of you love love love puppy breath ?

I do.

Summer vines are taking over old barns and growing inside of broken windows.

My neighbors cows are always excited to see me..... but are camera shy....

There is a big, handsome, muscular bull dating my cows.

He can outrun me.

I stay on my side of the fence now.

First harvest of squash and mini pumpkins and got a ton more to pick and share.

Cooked one up and boy was it delicious!!!

Dear Mavis always seems to be out sized and out colored, no matter where she goes.....

And it IS true: when one door slams in your face, another one kindly opens.

Meals On Wheels

2011-08-03T13:23:00.001-04:00

My garden is a jungle full of incredible veggies and I am sharing them with the village.

Neighbors have been coming to get lettuce and I have been delivering colorful Swiss Chard to anyone who wants some.

The 11 foot Cup Plant is feeding many beautiful butterflys and bees, plus providing water for hummingbirds and finches. What a fabulous plant!

I have a field full of 8 kinds of squash that will feed the town and my cows! I hope the deer don't discover it first!

How are your gardens growing ? Got anything unusual ?

90 Degrees in the Shade

2011-07-19T13:34:00.000-04:00

This heat is great for the garden. It is growing like crazy. In a few days there will be tomatoes.

The scarecrow has done a good job of keeping "nibblers" out of the garden.

The cows enjoy the shade during the day.

And everyone is staying hydrated!

Hope you all are staying cool with healthy fluids!