June slacker

I have been quite lazy about posting this month, so, on this last day in June I am going to give you a little bit of everything from all my recent (not so great) photos.

First, I am both happy and sad to report that we sold Johnny Cash today. He is the black alpine featured in the top photo with Rita and her 2 kids looking on. He was a great goat, and probably the friendliest we have ever had. Bucks just don't last too long here if we can find them a new home where they aren't going to be eaten.

It was coincidental that Larry, who bought Johnny, was the same Larry that we bought the big wooden crate from about a month ago. At least we know he will give him a good home with other goats for him to hang out with. Thanks, Larry.

Next is 1 of the 2 little deer bucks who have been hanging around here. They, with the help of Cyrus, woke us up at 5:16 a.m., eating my flowers in the big blue pots by the metal bench. Here he is eating some low-growing apples by the side of our house. We have a lot of apple trees, but I will be surprised if there are any apples left for me by picking time.

They will probably stick around for most of today because the very noisy Schuyler Lake Truck Pull is going on right next door. And the neighbor on the other side of our property is haying his field. I hate to think of what will happen to all the little fawns trying to hide in the tall grass.

The last pic is one of our 2 German Bielefelder hens who decided she wanted to sit on some eggs last week. If she makes it through to hatching them, we should see some chicks around July 12. But I don't have much hope of seeing any because she left the box yesterday and took up residence in the box next door. I think she was off the eggs for most of the day, but it was fairly warm so maybe they will survive. I moved them over underneath her much to her dismay.

2 young bucks in the back, and Phil

We very frequently see deer on the property and the dogs are quite happy to point them out if we don't see them. Woody just showed me yesterday that there is a new little fawn in the neighborhood. It seems very late in the season for fawns, and no one else I have talked to has seen any.

But we rarely see bucks here. Last year we had one young buck, and possibly the same guy the year before, but have not seen him lately. This morning though, Cyrus let us know that these 2 were in the backyard by the new trees. I didn't know until I got closer that they are both young bucks. Young bucks completely unfazed by 2 barking dogs and me with the camera.

Not the greatest pics, but you can clearly see their velvety new horns coming in.

And I found this last pic on facebook today. It is Phil Quartier, owner of the Quartier Horse Farm across the road from us. I did meet him once when we were still in the trailer out front. He came over to say hello while I was out working in the garden. He has since passed away. I have heard so many stories about what a character he was, and now I can see he was quite the accomplished horse man as well. Wow!

Sunset house, red table, better WoodMan

Sunsets are always pretty here at Lester's Flat, but some are prettier than others. I caught the elusive Husband in that photo standing in front of his truck.

My multi-colored, rusting, peeling picnic table and chairs are almost finished being painted—a lovely tomato red to almost match the screen door I painted a couple of years ago to almost match the Adirondack chair on the back porch. It is not easy painting that metal mesh, but I am getting there.

And the WoodMan is recovering nicely from his ear injury. He and Cyrus still go at it, but I stop them sooner than I would normally. Don't need any more blood spattered about the house. Plenty in here that I keep finding even though I thought I cleaned it all up... Stitches come out in 2 weeks. That should be loads of fun!

Woody Van Gogh

Will explain later. :(

Morning-after update: Always getting into trouble with those big ears!

The Van Gogh portrait :) was our Christmas card from a few years ago when Woody ran off into the woods and came back all bloody from a tiny little nick in one ear. The vet taped it up over his head to stop the bleeding which made him look a lot like this crazy painter who cut off his ear.

Yesterday, Cyrus was in a frenzy about getting out the door first to bark at a deer in the backyard, and he bit Woody on the ear, ripping it about an inch, all the way through. Tape was not the answer this time. They had to sedate him and stitch it. Cyrus appears repentant, but I doubt he knows that he is responsible. Woody is still trying to figure out what he did wrong to be punished so...

The king, the frog, and the blue-eyed dog

The king was testing out the bench by my big flower pots that finally got planted up. I hope the plants get a bit larger before the chickens discover them or they will scratch them right out of the pots. To the left of the king on his throne is a young red-leaf birch that we bought from Melinda's Nursery 2 years ago. To the right is a mountain ash that we just got a few weeks ago.

This little frog with the green head is probably a green frog from what I can find online. He lives in the culvert in front of the beagle house. He and the king are a bit shy about having their photos taken.

Cyrus and his one blue eye are not at all shy about posing. Right by the windowsill that is all scratched up by himself, and right by the slobbered up windows. He gets all lathered up when he sees a critter outside—large or small makes no difference.