What a Load of Crap

It's after Dark...When the 2 old cripples get to work.

We don't have to wear garlic or load up silver bullets...

The smell of what we are shoveling keeps all intelligent creatures at bay.

You won't find a "Twilight" creature within miles of here!

'cause we're cleaning rabbit cages and whats under them, out tonight!

As I said all INTELLIGENT creatures stayed away....These girls were taking FULL advantage of their first day out of the coop in weeks and made more work for us, trying to herd them up and get them inside for the night.

And here is the nights haul, I spread it on our garden spot the next day, taking full advantage of our January thaw to get things done.

Now I suppose we could have done this earlier in the day but we were blessed with a visit from our nephew Chuck's daughter.  Now I suppose I could have done what Danni does and put our visitor to work.  Especially since we had her out in the Pallet Palace earlier in the day....

But all I forced her to do was hold our most FEROCIOUS Rabbit, the dreaded Mini Dutch, DUTCHIE.

And of course we made her put up with the TERRIBLE TWOSOME.....

"Pet Me" BEAR and "Kissy Face" Harley

Until she finally passed out from over exertion......

Sunday we had more company....

Ethan and Aden, our two favorite munchkins.
Of course we let their mom and dad stay too.

Then Monday it was back to this guy....

My son,"Eric the Terrible's" Mini-Me .....Owen

Eagle Day

My wife was the one who spotted it, on a deer carcas that our dog Bear has been visiting since it was hit by a car about a week ago.  (I was surprised to see that it had drug itself so far out into the field before it died)

At first we just watched it though my binoculars, then I decided to try to get some pictures.  A few years ago the Bald Eagles started showing up in our area. Seen far and few between and mostly juvinile birds (which are easy to assume are Turkey Buzzards).  This is the first time I have been able to photograph a mature bird. 

From my driveway all I could see was a speck, in the photo it is a little above and to the left of center.

So I drove down the road snapping pictures as I tried to get as close as possible.

I tried to blow up the image but it wouldn't come out very clear.  It is actually sitting on what's left of the carcas.  Bear has hauled all of it's broken legs home (which I have had to dispose of ) and I am sure the local coyote population has had a meal or so too.

As I inched closer it stopped feeding.

And after this photo it took off, (while I was trying to adjust the camera to it's optimum settings, and so missed the whole take-off and flight). 

I hope it comes back tomorrow.

Firewood

Have you ever tried to get anything done around free ranging chickens?

While attempting to pick up some wood that was stacked to dry, my hens followed me to see if they could find some treats.  As soon as I started loading it on the truck they dove in.  While some attacked the wood pile, Goldie jumped on the tailgate, to be closest to me, and made a nuisance of herself.

Of course she wasn't alone.

When I finally got to the bottom of the pile the feasting really began.

On our days off from babysitting, and sometimes after babysitting, we have been kept busy cutting firewood for the winter.

My son built this trailer for me. A friend of his entered a demolition derby where they had boats on trailers towed behind their cars and my son got what was left of the boat trailer. He cut down the frame and added a different axle and tires, then built the box on it. As an added bonus it was an old tip trailer, so the box will dump.  This has come in very handy especially when it is loaded with manure.  As you can see in the photo, we loaded the trailer with wood and the truck with brush.

And he made this hydraulic log splitter for his tractor.  It has been a real back saver and makes short work of a stack of wood. And since he doesn't heat with wood, I guess you could say he built it for our use.  Thank you son.

He bought the hydralic cylinder and attached it to an I-beam from an old mobile home frame.

He fabricated the splitting wedge, slide and stop.

We temporarily set it up on blocks but he has plans of making it a tow behind assembly.

This is some of the downed trees we have yet to cut up.

And here is part of my ever growing brush pile.

This photo shows how late we normally work cutting, splitting and stacking wood. This was our last load of the day to be stacked.  Then it was on to feeding the animals, and finally ourselves.

I know you can't see much in the photo, so I lightened it up for better viewing.

These photos were taken about 2 weeks ago, The following were taken today after 2 days of thawing weather following our first major snow of the winter with near 0 temps and high winds.

Most of our dwindling wood supply.  We have been burning it for a couple of months already.

The chickens were very happy to get out of the coop again.

Goldie and friend, staying close and finding the large bare spot to forage.

Some venturing further away but under protection.

And finally of course, our grandson Owen.

Now that winter is here hopefully I will find more time for blogging.