Pigs like mud

My farmer husband loves his pigs, Elise and Marjorie. And the farmer's pigs love the mud when it is hot out there. Even though they are probably thirsty on the hot days too, they intentionally spill almost all of the water I give them into a big "swimming hole" that they dug in their enclosure.

Thanks to Terry and Alice for the pic, and for the big bag of pears they dropped off later!

Since those hot days over the weekend and before, we have had some of the best sunny, cool, breezy, with just a touch of rain here and there, fantastic weather for the past few days. No complaints from this lover of Upstate NY.

I mentioned the trail camera photos in the last post. I didn't mention that we caught some creatures other than the fox and bobcat.

This big buck was right on the edge of the driveway at 1:30 in the afternoon. And he brought his girlfriend and her cute little fawn by later in the day. 

I am not sure I like having a document of the comings and goings out there, but when I see pictures like this, it makes me smile...

Only the pretty pictures

We haven't caught anything interesting on the trail camera lately, until this week. Of course, the one week when we have been out and not able to close up the chickens in the big coop until after 10 pm, that's when I find the fox poking around out there at exactly that time. Thankfully the chickens are roosting up high and very quiet, and maybe the fence around the outside is actually working.

I also caught a very dark, blurry pic of what I think is the bobcat, out near the coop as well. At least that was at 2:30 am.

But for today's post I am only sharing the pretty pictures. Sunsets are always beautiful this time of year. We have the best clouds! I only wish they would give up a little more rain.

Wilco at Ommegang

With only a sprinkle of rain once or twice, it was a beautiful summer night to go see Wilco at Brewery Ommegang. The opening act, Kamikaze Palm Trees, was a funky/punky start to the show, playing with a beautiful sunset behind them.

Ommegang's Neon Rainbow beer, and Origin Café's Coconut Curry Chicken (for me) were a perfect way to carry us over until Wilco took the stage. 

Cousin Greg, The Husband and I also saw Wilco here a whole 10 years ago. That was the same time, in August of 2012, that Hub and I adopted the WoodMan, and I started working at The Freeman's Journal. 10 years...hard to believe on all 3 of those events!

Ommegang must have known we had reason to celebrate—fireworks to end the show, just for us I am sure. :)

New backyard and old friends

There is still work to do on the landscaping, and maybe we deserve a new table and chairs and barbecue, but the backyard is really coming together now that we have a proper patio. 

I expect the fire pit will get more use now that the grass isn't growing into it and around the edges. I just have to work on getting The Husband to sit still long enough to enjoy the fire and the stars...

I made a quick escape on Wednesday to New Jersey and Philadelphia to catch up with my sister and some OLD college friends. Joe and Dan were the hosts in their way cool apartment on South Street in Philly. 

We also managed to do a FaceTime with Penny Robinson, and an old-fashioned phone call to T.D. We are just not going to mention why Liz was unable to join us.

We took a wander down South Street after lunch because Barb was hoping to find some new stylish outfits. It's hard to find clothing this trendy in Nebraska.

A good time was had by all, and 2 cheesesteaks made their way back to New York for dinner. It was a quick trip, but worth every minute.

New patio, fire pit, and finger

It is a tradition here at Lester's Flat that dogs steal lunches from contractors. I was worried about keeping the dogs inside all day while the Rifanburg's guys were out back putting in a new paver patio and fire pit surround.

The fence is partially taken down, so I can't let Cyrus the Chicken Killer out there, but Woody was begging/barking to lay on the porch like he always does, so the guys said to let him out.

He behaved himself for at least 5 minutes. Then he took a wander over by the chickens enclosed in the new little coop and fence. Then when he was out of my sight, he snuck behind the truck and stole a sandwich or 2 out of the guy's backpack.

Guess you're stuck inside for sure now, Mister Woody.

We are doing a 15' x 17' paver patio at the bottom of the steps, and a 6' gravel ring around my oh so rustic hand-built stone fire pit.

And, speaking of hands, while doing something not at all difficult, picking up a fan, I ruptured 2 tendons in my middle finger. Our good friend Dr. Tom is also a good surgeon and put me back together last week. I'll spare you the picture of my FrankenFinger, but suffice it to say that once the stitches and the pin come out it will be good as new.

August heat and sunshine

We are both very pleased with our decision to add the AC unit last year, even if we didn't get to use it until this year. We were told when we built the house that we wouldn't need it. They were wrong. But then climate change is all a hoax...or is it?

Both of our little iPhones predicted 100% chance of rain at 6 pm yesterday. We got the rainbow over Goatland, but not even a drop of rain. 

Rain is predicted again at about 1 pm today, but the puffy little white clouds at 12:19 are not looking too promising.

And that last pic...MonkeyCat likes to sleep on the big cushy dog bed. A very polite Woody went over and requested  his turn on the bed. A very stubborn and silly Monkey said no, I was here first.

It's a big bed. Looks like they were able to work it out.

Music, Siri, and the fox

Music

The Husband's love of music has gotten me into all kinds of interesting situations where I am encouraged to sing along. Kathy singing...I know...amusing isn't it? We have 3 or 4 iterations of our "bands", and all of them have flexible membership.

I was going to pass on this jam session yesterday, because bluegrass/old timey music isn't exactly my preference, but I am glad I joined in and met some new people. Thanks to Will and Sue for hosting.

Siri

Although I can't hear him laughing, I think my Irish male Siri truly enjoys messing with me. At the performance of Romeo and Juliet mentioned earlier, I sat in the first row so I could take some photos for the newspaper. As Juliet is in the midst of a very emotional soliloquy, standing just a few feet in front of me, Irish Siri very loudly responds >>>

The phone was muted. Siri didn't care. Embarrassed doesn't begin to describe...

The fox

We heard at least 2 screaming foxes (which I have recorded but can't seem to post) after coming back from the play on July 13 about 10:30 pm. We haven't heard or seen them since then. I thought maybe they had moved on after I closed the Chicken Diner, but no, there was another screaming session last night just after we got home from the jam, around 10:30.

Good to know. Sorry chickens, you are still my prisoners.

Baseball is very important

Big baseball weekend in the big Coop, but we do our very best to avoid it. I would much rather watch the sun go down in the back 40 (more like 20) or have a conversation with the goats hiding from the heat in the barn, than hang out with all those people wearing all the merch from all their favorite teams.

I like a good Phillies game as much as Little Sister (a lot) but I just don't feel the need to stand out in the hot sun and listen to the famed ones talk about the game.

Sorry, I know this is blasphemous. It's hard to pretend to be a sports fan when we don't even have a TV. Also blasphemous...to some...

Do I dare share this on Facebook? Oh the horror!

Just chickens and Shakespeare

The newly constructed coop and pen seem to be working out well for the 8 teenage prisoners. They don't know anything about free ranging, so they don't know what they are missing.

The rooster and 1 hen remaining in the big coop seem to be settling in as well, although the hen still is not laying any eggs (that I can find). She was fairly regular about laying 1 green egg almost every day before the mayhem began.

And the 4 chicks with Broody Mom are enjoying the addition of a second dog crate to their enclosure. I do have to get them out of the garage at some point because it gets too hot in there.

Our visitors are making their way back to Florida, but the 4 of us had a great time seeing Romeo and Juliet even though a rainstorm brought the actors inside rather than out on the banks of Otsego Lake. If I can get permission :) I will add The Husband's review of the play to my FB page. It is anonymously going in the newspaper today.

His writing is also a work of art.

Chickens, visitors and Shakespeare

For now I am done talking about the marauding fox who has screwed up my life with chickens. 

Broody hen hatched 4. All 5 of them moved into the dog crate in the garage when the teenagers moved outside into the Omlet coop/pen.

Brian and Evie drove up from Florida for a week's stay on the lake. Much food and farm fun has been had by all. The weather has been mostly pleasant, except for the predicted showers this evening, when we were supposed to sit outside by that other lake and watch a performance of Romeo and Juliet. 

The show has been moved inside. I guess that will give us more time to focus on our 2 friends in the play.

Break a leg Mark and Sharon!

Solved 1 problem, but still the fox

Buying the fancy ($$$) new Omlet coop has solved the problem of what to do with the 8 growing chickens who spent their first 2 months in a dog crate in the garage. Directions said 3 hours to put it together. It took 3 days, and that with help on the first day from good friend, Tom.

Chickies didn't understand that they were supposed to actually go inside the little green house. They spent the first night roosting on the wood post in front of the open door, but last night when I got home late, they were all inside and I was able to close the door. It probably helped that it was a rainy day.

Before I had let the teenagers out of the garage (the new coop is in the boxes on the porch) I set up the trail camera to see if Foxy was watching them. Indeed she was. The dark picture is from 4:36 am on Friday. She is walking between the garage and the front porch of our house. 

Then, we went out Sunday night around 6 pm and were lucky to close up the chickens in the big coop before we left. I am pretty sure that is Foxy and a kit walking past the oak tree right beside the driveway near the big coop at 8:18 pm.

The new coop is supposed to be secure enough to keep out the critters. I am setting up the trail cam out there to see what happens in the night, and it is very close to the house so I can watch out for them during the day.

So that problem is solved, I hope, for the 8 new chickens. Now I just have to get back to work on the fencing out front, so I can bring home my 4 laying hens vacationing with Terry and Alice. (Thanks for the dozen eggs T&A!) 

Broody Hen, who has 4 babies, is probably going to move into the garage until we figure out the big coop and fence. Obviously Foxy and friends are still interested. :(