ELLAWISC

June 24 2009

2009-06-24T06:45:00.002-05:00

Hello, it's the end of June and lots and lots of things have gone on since the last blog. Corn is up, have had a fantastic alfalfa crop, am cutting a large hay crop, cows, calves and heifers all mowing grass like they were starving. Summer is here. Farming is underway.

We're working on grazing made easy. We have water in almost every paddock and are close to having the middle wire of all the fences as an electric fence. This makes bossies fence edicate much better as she no longer has the desire to eat from the next paddock. we are still mowing the easy parts of the new paddock and baling the hay right after we cut it. It is a wet bale and will spoil unless it is sealed up. We bring the bales home and wrap then in a plastic bag. Then we turn the cows in to eat along the fences and the steep hillsides.

Most of the birds have babies that are flying by now and the babies are coming to the feeders. They do not know how to eat. Can you believe that? We have a number of Red Bellied Woodpeckers at the feeders outside the computer room. Dads have the back, top and front of their head red. Moms have the back and top of their heads red. The kids have no red on their heads, only grey. The kids and one of the parents will fly to the tree to feed. the kid hangs on the tree while the parent gets a seed from the feeder brings it to the kid and sticks it into its wide open mouth. The Downy Woodpeckers are the same way. I should get some pictures. I should do a lot of things.

May 9,2009

2009-05-09T06:19:00.005-05:00

As I typed the 2009 date I thought back to all the perceived problems we thought would happen as we rolled into the new century. And what might have been on my grandfather's mind as he sat in this house and rolled into the 1900's. Fleeting thoughts about this beautiful planet the Lord made and how some of us enjoy his creation. Lots of yellow birds and orange birds outside the kitchen window, Downey, Hairy, and Red Bellied Woodpeckers on the suit feeder outside the computer room window. Thank you Lord for a job well done.

Last night Pete and I finally got the main corn fields planted. We got a late start because we drug the old 4 row corn planter out of the weeds (it was one of the better planters in 1956) and we began its reconstruction which took longer than expected. We had to get all the mechanism to turn and function, had to change from 32" row spacing to 30" rows for both the seed placement and the fertilizer placement, had to set the rate of seed drop and the rate of fertilizer application. It took longer than we planed of course. When we were in the field ready to plant we suddenly thought "the markers are not set for 30" rows". We grabbed the manual to find how they should be set and guess what. It takes special pieces to set for 30" rows. The marker makes a line in the dirt to follow on the next trip down the field, so that the spacing between passes is also 30". Well back to the shop to modify the marker mechanism so they are in the right place.

All and all, things worked out pretty well the last few days. Earlier Pete had moldboard plowed all the fields. In the last few days I ran the digger and drag to smooth and prepare the field and Pete ran the planter. We just finished the last field when it began to sprinkle. We got the equipment covered and put the fertilizer wagon inside. Last night we got .32 inches of rain. Nice gentle rain. Those little corn kernels have to be loving it this morning. The sun is out today and will be beaming down on their little bed. Another week and they will be popping their little heads above ground. Thank you lord for good timing.

The shrubs and trees we planted last week budded out and have gorgeous little leaves along their stems. Although I weed whipped the ground bare where we planted them, they are slowly disappearing into a sea of grass. I guess I get another job, to drop a tube aroUnd the tree and spray roundup on the ground. That way I can let the regular vegetation grow (without mowing) and the new plantings will have a little space to grow.

Yesterday Forest brought down two hives of bees to sit by the middle pond. Lots of Dandelions to feed on and some plum and apple trees in bloom. Bees will love them. Morrells will be appearing soon. The rain will have helped them.

We need to work the animals today. Time to move them around and put some of them out on grass. Soon if you had a baby you get to go to the pasture. What an incentive. Also need to get the sprayer ready. Should be spraying for weeds within 5 days of planting. We may make this. Because we mohlboard plowed, this year instead of hiring my regular spraying guy to apply the multiple mixed weed killers, I am going to apply a preemergence herbicide at 1/2 the recomended rate and see if the corn will canopy and shade out the weeds. Have to get the sprayer going and calibrated. More work more work. More time? Less blogging.

May 5 2009

2009-05-05T07:48:00.005-05:00

Haven't blogged in a long time. Many things have happened and not commented on. Spring is here and although we felt we were finally having a spring where we were on time, the alligators invaded and we're behind. A beautiful rain this morning and we don't have the corn planted. Last week with 4 Massey tractors, one was running. We're back with 3 running now. Maybe 4 by the weekend, don't need the 4th one, but it is broken in the middle of what will be a corn field with a broken front spindle so we can't even tow it out on the way.

We did have a couple of turkey hunters in the south home, bagged two birds and saw a lot of them. We also had a prof from UW Eau Claire with a bunch of students on a geology outing for the weekend. Should have stories from all of them, so they say. One of the kids caught a 22" Brown Trout in Big Plum Creek on saturday. Big fish, they ate it, didn't save a bite for me.

We planted 200+ trees and shrubs around the upper two ponds over the weekend. We need to do more wildlife corridors with browse and cover. We plowed a spot in the bottoms for a corn and ?? food plot and will expand this along Big Plum in the fall and next spring. We have been getting things done, but the corn is not in, and lots of other things are not done. It just happens that way when you are on the farm; you get bit in the b____ when you least expect it.

This is an example of how the Shoo-fly Landing is utilized, last Saturday, we were headed to Menomonie and noticed a bunch of canoes coming into the landing. The cars and canoe trailers had been there since Thursday or Friday. We found Shaun and a passel of UW Eau Claire students had started from Eau Claire and paddled to the landing. The next place to pull out is 9 miles further south. Couldn't find a better use for this little piece of America.

As you can see, I had to put my two cents in ... (according to the boss) ... Nobody probably wants to hear about my birds, but guess what, here goes! The first of May was exciting to say the least. My first Oriole was here and then on the second of May our first humming bird was here. It is good to know that they haven't forgotten where we live and where the feed is so abundant. While I am typing on the blog, the American gold finches are singing up a storm. It is so sweet to hear them. I am typing and looking out the computer room window and the Downy woodpeckers are on the suet packs.

Pete just called and said he was on "N" and would be here soon. His dad was taken to the hospital last night with chest problems. Pete had a doctor's appointment at 9:00 but will be here soon to start another day at the farm.

Today we are supposed to have the bulls tested for their testosterone levels to see if they are potent or impotent, whichever the case may be. Hopefully they will all be in good shape so they can produce babies for next year. We forgot to take any pictures of this happening. Our first bull went right through the end of the chute. He is one massive bull. We had to reload him into the chute and believe me he was not a happy camper. We finally got the testing done and he decided he did not want to go back into the pen so he took a little trip and ended up on the hill in back of the barn, bellering at us. As I said before, not happy at all about the situation. Carl and Pete went back later when things settled down and walked him back down to the chute. I'm surprised he even came down the chute to go back into his pen. When he walked down his head was down and his neck was arched and you could really see that he was upset. Usually the bulls are all very gentle. At this time I would not like to challenge him further. What a day!

MARCH 1, 2009

2009-03-02T07:19:00.003-06:00

WELL -13 THIS MORNING. -14, -8, AND THIS MORNING -13. MORE PROOF OF GLOBAL WARMING. THE ICE IS SO THICK ON LAKE PEPIN THE BARGE TRAFFIC WILL BE ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATE GETTING STARTED. I SEE WE HAVE CHANGED FROM "GLOBAL WARMING" TO "CLIMATE CHANGE". I WONDER WHY???

FEB 24, 2009

2009-02-24T08:05:00.006-06:00

SUNDAY WE WELDED THE WINCH MOUNT ON THE FRONT OF PETE'S DODGE. WE FABRICATED THE MOUNTING ON SATURDAY AND GOT IT MOUNTED ON THE TRUCK AND OPERATIONAL ON SUNDAY. PETE SAYS IT LOOKS TOUGH. IT IS A 9000 POUND WINCH (IT DOESN'T WEIGH 9000 POUNDS, IT PULLS 9000 POUNDS) WHICH SHOULD PULL TREES OUT OF THE FOREST WHERE HE CAN MAKE FIRE WOOD OUT OF THEM. HE WILL PROBABLY FIND OTHER USES FOR IT BEFORE LONG. LOOKS NICE.

SUNDAY WE PUT THE ISUZU PICKUP IN THE SHOP TO REBUILD THE FRAME. IT HAS A TOUGH ENGINE AND RUNNING GEAR (IF YOU CHAIN IT TO A TREE, IT WILL DIG 4 HOLES IN THE GROUND VS A 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK WHICH DIGS 2) AND IT IS SHORTER AND MORE COMPACT THEN A NORMAL TRUCK. WE WILL MAKE A MULTI USE VEHICLE FOR AROUND THE FARM. A TUGGER, A PULLER, A HILL CLIMBER, A CALF CATCHER, AND OTHER THINGS WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.

MONDAY WE GOT THE BODY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME AND ALMOST SET ASIDE. THE FRAME IS REALLY RUSTED BUT WE WILL BE REPLACING ALMOST ALL OF THE ORIGINAL FRAME WITH NEW TUBING FOR A MORE STRUCTURALLY STRONG FRAME TO MEET OUR USES. I HAVE A SET OF OVER-SIZED TIRES AND WHEELS TO PUT ON THE BEAST TO GIVE MORE GROUND CLEARANCE. THAT WILL MAKE IT TOUGH.

MONDAY, FOREST CAME OVER WITH HIS PORTABLE SCALE TO WEIGH THE CALVES. WE SET IT UP IN THE CHUTE IN THE BARN AND WITH A FEW MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE THE CHUTE NARROWER, TO USE A CHUTE DOOR AS A BLOCK IN FRONT OF THE SCALE, AND PETE WITH A RIOT PANEL AS A BACK DOOR TO MOVE THE CALF ONTO THE SCALE, WE WEIGHED THE CALF CROP.

FEB 21 2009

2009-02-21T08:15:00.003-06:00

A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WHEN THE SUN CAME UP IT WAS A SMALL BLIZZARD WITH ABOUT 3" ALREADY ON THE GROUND. THE WHITE CARPET SEEMS TO BRING OUT THE COLORS IT THE BIRDS. THE RED OF THE CARDINALS, THE BLUE AND WHITE OF THE BLUE JAY, THE RED, WHITE AND BLACK OF THE RED BRESTED WOODPECKER, THE PERKEY LITTLE DOWNEY WOODPECKER

FEB 16, 2009

2009-02-16T19:20:00.005-06:00

IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE I WROTE, AND FEB IS HALF OVER. TIME FLIES WHEN YOUR HAVING FUN. I GUESS. GOT A TON OF THINGS DONE LAST WEEK. PAT AND DAUGHTER TAMMY GOT TO NEW ORLIENS ON SUNDAY. 19 HOURS OR SOMETHING ON THE TRAIN. WHAT FUN.
IN GODS COUNTRY HOWEVER WE GOT A HAY RAKE REBUILT, NEW WHEEL BEARINGS, REBUILT AXEL'S, REBUILT GEAR BOX, AND IT NOW HAS ALL OF IT'S TEETH. BRING ON THE HAY! GOT OUR SECOND RAKE READY TO GO IN FOR SIMILAR SURGERY. ALWAYS NEED A BACKUP. SOME TIMES IT'S GOOD TO USE TWO RAKES IN FRONT OF THE BAILER. PETE LIKES TO KEEP THE THROAT OF THE BAILER CLOSE TO THE CHOKING POINT. HE LIKES TO PUT THE PUSH ON THE EQUIPMENT, BUT NOT AS BAD AS STANLEY DID.
WE FINISHED WELDING ON THE WATERER TANKS AND POLISHED UP THE NEW DESIGN FOR THE PADDOCK WATERERS, PUT THEM AND THE OPERATING MEGA-HEAT IN PETE'S DODGE HOOKED UP THE TRAILER OF MEGA-HEAT FRAMES AND ON THURSDAY HEADED TO ZALK STEEL TO GET THEM GALVANIZED. WE PULLED INTO THE BAY TO UNLOAD, AND BILL WAS MORE INTERESTED IN THE MEGA-HEAT IN THE TRUCK THAN UNLOADING THE TRAILER.
BILL HAD A 100 POUND GAS BOTTLE THERE, HOOKED UP THE HEATER, TURNED IT ON, AND DREW A CROWD OF HIS WORKERS. EVERY BODY WAS WOWED. WE LET THE HEATER RUN, UNLOADED THE TRAILER AND TRUCK, WENT TO LUNCH, CAME BACK AND LOADED THE HEATER INTO THE TRUCK. BEFORE WE LEFT, BILL SAID HE WANTS THE FIRST FOUR OF THE HEATERS WE BUILD, AND THIS WINTER YET. THAT'S A BIG ORDER WITHOUT HAVING PARTS TO BUILD WITH.
WHILE WE WERE IN MINNEAPOLIS WE STOPED AT MY NEIGHBOR JIM'S HOUSE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ABOUT TEN BLOCKS FROM ZALK STEEL. THE CAMERA OPERATOR MUST HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. A VERY NICE UNIQUE HOME FULL OF ANTIQUE ART. JIM IS AN ESTATE AND ART APPRAISER BY OCCUPATION.
SO GUESS WHAT. I'M LOOKING UP PARTS AND GETTING READY TO BUILD, FOR HE WILL BE CALLING EARLY THIS WEEK TO SAY THE "FRAMES ARE READY". DON'T HAVE "HEATER BUILD" IN THE SCHEDULE.

SATURDAY PETE TOOK THE TRACTOR AND FEED WAGON TO THE BOTTOMS TO BRING HOME HAY. 1 BALE ON THE TRACTOR LOADER AND 4 IN THE FEED WAGON. IT'S NO PROBLEM MOVING IT ON THE ROAD, OR ON THE DRIVE (IT WAS EARLIER BUT THE ICE IS OFF THE DRIVE), HOWEVER THE REST OF THE FARM IS STILL A SHEET OF ICE IN SPOTS. A FIVE MINUTE JOB TAKES 2 HOURS. SOMETIMES THAT IS DISCOURAGING, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN THE SCHEDULE.

WORKED ON BLUE TRUCKS FLOOR, TORE THE CANCER OUT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. REBUILT MOST OF THE MAJOR SEAT AND FLOOR AREAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND LATER ON THE PASSENGERS. GOT THE BODY MOUNTS DONE BUT NOT BOLTED DOWN. HAVE TO CUT SOME NEW RUBBER PADS SO IT CAN FLOAT A BIT. THIS IS A LONG TERM WORK ON IT NOW AND THEN (MY ADD KICKS IN NOW AND THEN AND I NEED A BREAK) TO FIX MY BABY UP. THEN I WILL PROBABLY NEED TO GIVE HER A SHINEY PAINT JOB. WHEN WE GET THE FIXEN DONE WERE GONA START THE PAINTEN. MORE DARN FUN

WE CUT THAT TREE PILE AND MADE A LOG PILE. WE HAVE MORE LOGS TO COLLECT FROM VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE FARM BEFORE WE CALL THE LOG TRUCK. WE NEED TO GET IT DONE BEFORE THE ROAD BANS GO ON. THAT'S USUALLY ABOUT THE 15TH OF MAY. SAW THE LOGS THIS SPRING, ALSO SAW STICKERS (SMALL THIN BOARDS TO PLACE BETWEEN THE BOARDS WHEN THEY ARE STACKED. THIS ALLOWS AIR TO CIRCULATE AROUND EACH BOARD WHILE THEY ARE DRYING). IN TWO OR THREE YEARS I WILL BE ABLE TO USE THEM. GOT THE DRIVE CLEANED OUT READY FOR THE SNOW ON TUES EVENING.

FEB 7, 2009

2009-02-07T17:14:00.007-06:00

TODAY WAS 40 DEGREES. A HEAT WAVE! OFF WITH THE JACKETS, IT'S TOO HOT TO WORK WITH A JACKET ON. WE SPENT PART OF THE DAY WORKING ON LOG PILE BESIDE THE DRIVE.
THE COUNTY HAS WAITED FOR YEARS TO CUT SOME OF THE TREES ALONG THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT AND THEY REMOVED SOME TREES AND BROUGHT THEM UP THE DRIVE AND STACKED THEM UP. SOME OF THE TREES ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR MAKING LUMBER, SOME ARE FOR FIRE WOOD. WE WERE TRIMMING THE SMALL ENDS OF THE LUMBER TREES FOR FIRE WOOD AND SORTING THE LOGS

IT WAS NICE AND WARM, THE SNOW WAS MELTING WHICH MADE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF A SKATING RINK IN SPOTS AND A MUD SLIDE IN OTHERS. THE TOP OF THE MUD WAS SOFT, BUT BENEATH THE PUDDING THE GROUND WAS STILL FROZEN. ALL KIDS ENJOY PLAYING IN THE MUD (I THINK). IT WILL FREEZE AGAIN TONIGHT AND BE SOLID IN THE MORNING. CHOSE THE TIME OF DAY TO MAKE YOUR CHORES EASIER. THE MUD IS A BIT OF A PAIN, BUT IT'S THAT FREEZING AND THAWING THAT MAKE OUR SOILS YOUNG COMPARED TO THE SOUTH WHERE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. WE LIKE YOUNG SOILS AND GOOD PLANTS.

THIS IS THE STACK OF LOGS WE WILL SEND TO THE SAWMILL. THE NEIGHBOR WITH THE SAWMILL LIVES A FEW MILES AWAY AND ALSO HAS A LOG TRUCK . WE NEED TO CUT THE LOGS INTO SHORTER LENGTHS, BUT I WILL LET HIM DECIDE WHERE TO CUT THE LOGS TO GET THE BEST YIELD OF LUMBER. IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I'VE DONE ANY SERIOUS WOODWORKING AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT AGAIN. MAYBE I'LL MAKE A GRANDFATHER CLOCK, OR A SERIES OF GLASS DOORS (I HAVE A LOT OF 30 X 70 INCH PLATE GLASS PIECES) TO MAKE CABINETS ALONG A WALL. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY. ANOTHER PROBLEM TO SOLVE -- WHAT TO MAKE.

BEEN A BUSY WEEK, COLD TO START,BUT WE WORKED INSIDE ON THE HEATER FRAMES AND A NEW DESIGN FOR THE SUMMER WATERERS WHICH SHOULD BE MUCH MORE GALVANIZING FRIENDLY. I'LL HAVE TO PUT THESE ON THE ABC WEBSITE. ALSO SPENT TIME ON HOW TO MAKE BIRD SEED BLOCKS. NONE OF THE MANUFACTURERS OF BIRD SEED BLOCKS WILL DISCOUNT PURCHASES OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF THE BLOCKS. MY FRIEND, FOREST, GREW SUNFLOWERS LAST YEAR AND IS SELLING BULK SEED TO THE PUBLIC. I THINK WE NEED TO MANUFACTURE THE SEED BLOCKS (GLUE AND PRESS THEM TOGETHER) AND MARKET THEM IN QUANTITIES OF 50 OR 60 AT A TIME. WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A SPECIAL WEBSITE IF WE CAN MASS PRODUCE THEM. (ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW RUNNING THROUGH HIS BRAIN! WHAT A THINKER!!!)

WE ALSO REPAIRED A COUPLE OF HAY FEEDING RINGS. THE COWS AND THE TRACTOR TAKE A HEAVY TOLL ON THEM. WE TRY TO FEED BACK NEW BALES IN A NEW SPOT IN THE WINTER PASTURE. THIS HELPS TO SPREAD THE FERTILIZER (COW POOP) AROUND THE FIELD. WE ARE GETTING THEM REINFORCED (WITH OLD FENCE POSTS) WHERE THE TRACTOR LOADER PICKS THEM UP SO THAT WE DO LESS DAMAGE MOVING THEM. THE COWS, HOWEVER, HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL WAY OF DESTROYING THINGS THAT'S HARD TO FIGURE OUT AND PREVENT. THIS PRESENTS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE TO TRY TO BE SMARTER THAN THE COW.

GUESS WHAT? TOMORROW, SUNDAY, I AM GOING TO MY FREEPORT HOME FOR A FEW DAYS. ON VALENTINE'S DAY, MY DAUGHTER, TAMMY, AND I, (PAT), ARE GOING TO NEW ORLEANS (NOLA FOR SHORT) ON THE AMTRAK FOR TWO WEEKS. WE ARE GOING FOR MARDI GRAS. THIS WILL BE TAMMY'S FIRST TIME LOOKING AT ALL THE WEIRDOS AND ALSO RIDING THE TRAIN. IT IS SO MUCH FUN JUST CHECKING EVERYONE OUT. CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN SEE. MY OTHER DAUGHTER, CHERYL AND HER HUSBAND, JAY AND DAUGHTER JADE LIVE THERE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GET A HOTEL ROOM. CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING ON THE AMTRAK FOR 19 HOURS. I HAVEN'T DONE THIS SINCE MY FIRST GRANDSON, PATRICK, WAS BORN, 30 YEARS AGO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE CAN GO UP IN THE OBSERVATION CAR, HAVE A LITTLE "DRINKEY-POO, ALONG WITH SOMETHING TO EAT" (OF COURSE) AND CHECK OUT ALL THE SIGHTS AND JUST "VEG OUT." WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD WE LIVE IN. ONLY IN AMERICA!!!

FEB 4, 2009

2009-02-04T06:18:00.002-06:00

-15 BELOW THIS MORNING. ABOUT THE THIRD MORNING IN A ROW LIKE THIS. MORE PROOF OF GLOBAL WARMING. HOW CAN GORE KEEP UP THE FACE? BUT I'M AFRAID THEY HAVE THE WARMING BALL ROLLING AND WILL PUT MILLIONS, OR BILLIONS INTO THE POCKETS OF THE FAITHFUL. OH TO BE SLIGHTLY DISHONEST AND SIT AT THE TROUGH. THE AG ADVISERS PREDICTING THE NEXT 20 YEARS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE COLD SIDE SO WE SHOULD PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

JAN 30, 2009

2009-01-30T07:33:00.002-06:00

-12 THIS MORNING. MORE PROOF OF GLOBAL WARMING. ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SUNNY COOL DAY.

JAN 25, 2008

2009-01-25T07:02:00.005-06:00

ONLY -14 THIS MORNING. MADE THE TRIANGLE DRIVE TO MENOMONIE AND THEN EAU CLAIRE AND BACK TO ELLA YESTERDAY. HAD TO BUY EAR TAGS FOR THE NEW CALF. WANTED TWO DIFFERENT COLORS FOR THIS YEARS CALVES BUT OF COURSE AS MY LUCK GOES FLEET-FARM DIDN'T HAVE THE VARIETY. I HAD ASKED WAYNE TO ORDER BLUE AND GREEN TAGS BUT OF COURSE HE HADN'T GOTTEN TO THAT. SO WE GOT BLUE AND WHITE. PAT SAYS I CANNOT PUT BLUE TAGS ON THE GIRLS. THEREFORE AND WHATEVER, APPARENTLY OUR NEW CALF WILL GET A WHITE TAG THIS MORNING. I WONDER WHAT NUMBER?

AFTER ALL THE WORK WAS DONE (SHOPPING) YESTERDAY I TOOK PAT TO ""OUTBACK"". WE BOTH HAD THE STEAK SPECIAL. IT WAS EXCELLENT, IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME BEFORE WE PARTOOK OF THEIR STEAKS. WE ALSO HAD A MARGUERITA. DELICIOUS!!! IT WAS QUITE BORING ON THE HOME LEG, THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY, IT WAS A NICE COLD, CLEAR NIGHT, NO BIG CHALLENGE AT ALL. COULD HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP.

WELL WHEN EVERYBODY IS FED, I WILL BE TRYING TO FINISH THE BLUE TRUCK. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS PICTURE, THE CAB WAS HAVING SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. IT'S A 1986 GMC AND AS ITS BECOME AN ADULT, ITS BEEN HAVING SOME CAVITY PROBLEMS. SO I HAVE BECOME THE DENTIST. GUT THE CAB AND BEGIN REMOVING UNSOUND MATERIALS. (THE WHOLE BOTTOM AND SUPPORTS) WE KNEW THE CAB WAS SLOWLY BECOMING CLOSER TO THE GROUND, BUT EVERYTHING WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL. OCCASIONALLY THE FRONT TIRES WOULD RUB ON THE FENDERS, BUT THIS ONLY MADE NOISE WHICH ADDED TO THE EXPERIENCE.

WELL IT WAS WINTER AND FOR AN INSIDE CHALLENGE WE BROUGHT IN THE BLUE TRUCK. WELL IT IS A LOT LIKE DENTISTRY, YOU HAVE TO CARVE AWAY THE DECAYED PARTS WITHOUT DESTROYING THE HEALTHY ONES. THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE DECAY IN THE REAR OF THE CAB REMOVED. YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE ROUND RUBBER CAB MOUNTS IN THE PICTURE AND THAT A LOT OF THE ROT HAS BEEN REMOVED. IT'S A CHALLENGE TO FIGURE WHAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED, AND HOW TO REMOVE IT WITHOUT DESTROYING THE SOLID PARTS. ALSO CHALLENGING IS THE PLAN FOR WHAT WILL REPLACE THE ROT AND HOW TO POSITION THE CAB TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORIOUS PLACE ON THE TRUCK.

IT'S A GOOD THING THAT I COLLECT A VARIETY OF BUILDING PIECES (MY JUNK PILE THAT SOME PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NOT THE VISIONS, COMPLAIN ABOUT) TO CREATIVELY DESIGN SOLUTIONS. LAST SUMMER I SAW SOME NICE LOOKING CHANNELS IN BRIAN'S (MY LOCAL SALVAGE YARD) TRUCK, DESTINED FOR THE BIG YARD IN THE SKY. I RESCUED THESE PIECES FOR FUTURE PROJECTS. ALAS I FOUND A PROJECT! YOU CAN SEE THE NEW REAR BODY MOUNT WELDED TO THE HEALTHY CAB STEEL AND SITTING ON THE RUBBER MOUNTS TO POSITION THE REAR OF THE CAB AT IT'S PROPER HEIGHT. THE CENTER OF THE CAB FLOOR IS SOLID, SO IT IS ALSO WELDED TO THE NEW SUPPORT.

THE FRONT BODY SUPPORTS WERE NON EXISTENT AS WAS THE COLUMN HOLDING THE DOOR HINGES. HOW CAN YOU HOLD THE BODY IN ITS PROPER PLACE WITH ALL THIS DECAYED STEEL. NO WONDER THE TIRES RUB THE FENDERS. WELL PPART OF THE ROT IS REMOVED; NOW DEVISE A PLAN TO REBUILD THE COLUMN AND THE FRONT MOUNT AND THE FLOOR SUPPORT. A CHALLENGE FOR TODAY. PAT IS UP, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, (-14 THIS MORNING) THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHTLY, THE BIRDS ARE HAMMERING THE SUIT FEEDERS, THE CALVES AND HEIFERS ARE READY FOR THEIR CANDY, I"M HUNGRY AND READY FOR THE DAY TO CONTINUE. WHAT CHALLENGES AWEIGHT??

JAN 24,2008

2009-01-24T08:31:00.004-06:00

LAST BLOG IT WAS -14, THEN IT GOT TO -28, THEN TO -34, THEN A WEEK OF WARM WEATHER WHEN THE DAYTIME HIGH GOT ABOVE ZERO. ALMOST GOT TO FREEZING, NOT QUITE, SO WE DIDN'T, ANOTHER ICE SHEET. ALREADY HAVE ONE UNDER THE SNOW PACK. THIS MORNING -20 AND I GUESS FROM THE WEATHER FORECAST WILL BE THIS WAY MOST OF THE WEEK.

HAD 1 CALF IN THAT REAL COLD SPELL (NICE LOOKING BULL) THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT. HAD ANOTHER IN THE LAST WARM SPELL THAT IS DOING WELL. HAD A PAIR OF TWINS BORN DEAD. THIS IS WAY TOO EARLY. 3/4 OF THE NEW CALF CROP IS DEAD. NOT A GOOD RATIO. THE RED BELLIED WOODPECKERS (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A ROBIN) ARE REALLY WORKING THE FEEDERS THIS MORNING. AT LEAST ONE PAIR FEED (SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF BIRDS BUT I CAN'T TELL ONE MALE FROM ANOTHER) HERE ALL THE TIME. PAT GETS SUET FROM THE MEAT MARKET IN PLUM CITY TO PUT ONTO THE FEEDERS AND IT CERTAINLY IS A HIT WITH MOST OF THE BIRDS. (WOODPECKERS, BLUE JAYS, CARDINALS, NUTHATCHES AND MORE).

HAVE TO GIVE SHOTS THIS MORNING. ONE OF LAST YEAR'S CALVES HAS AN INFECTED KNEE. HE GOT A SHOT OF PENICILLIN TUESDAY, AND I WORKED SOME OF THE INFECTION OUT. IT WAS DRAINING NICELY. WEDNESDAY HE LAID DOWN IN A HOLE AND WE HAD TO HELP HIM GET BACK ONTO HIS FEET. WE PUT HIM IN THE BARN AND HE IS DOING BETTER. HE WILL GET ANOTHER PENICILLIN SHOT AND THE NEW CALF (HE AND MOM ARE IN THE HAY SHED DURING THESE BELOW ZERO MORNINGS) WILL GET A TAG AND VITAMIN E WITH SELINUM SHOT.

PETE WENT TO THE BOTTOMS TO BRING HOME SOME HAY (WE HAVE ABOUT 29 BALES WE DID NOT GET HOME LAST FALL) AND ALMOST MADE IT UP THE HILL. THE FEED WAGON HAS 3 BALES IN IT AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSE YOU CAN SEE IT IS TIED TO THE TREE WITH A TOW ROPE. PETE AND HIS DAD TRIED VARIOUS WAYS TO TOP THE HILL WITH NO AVAIL. IT WAS ABOUT 30 THAT DAY AND THE SNOW PACK WAS SLIPPERY. TODAY I WAS ON THE TRACTOR WITH MANY LENGTHS OF CHAIN SO THAT I WAS ON TOP OF THE HILL PULLING AND PETE WAS BEHIND THE WAGON IN HIS DODGE PUSHING. WITH QUITE A BIT OF TIRE SPINNING, RE-HOOKING, SHOUTING, AND A FEW LANGUAGE CHOICES WE GOT THE FEED TO THE COWS. ONE THING ABOUT WINTER IS HAVING A COMPLETE NEW SET OF OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERCOME. WHAT A CHALLENGE AND AT ABOUT -10 TO BOOT.

JAN 13, 2009

2009-01-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

MINUS 17 DEGREES THIS MORNING. NOW JAN 24th. NOT DOING GOOD ON BLOGING

JAN 8, 2009

2009-01-08T20:40:00.003-06:00

WOW A NEW YEAR ALREADY. WINTER IS IN PROCESS AND SOON WILL BE SPRING, A BEAUTIFUL TIME. BUT WINTER IS ALSO PRETTY NICE. THE AWE INSPIRING SNOW CLINGING TO THE TREE BRANCHES, THE CARPET OF WHITE EXTENDING FOREVER, THE TEMPERATURE, CREATING THE DESIRE TO PUT ON ADITIONAL CLOTHS, WARM CLOTHES. THE LORD CREATES AN UNENDING CASCADE OF DIFFERENT DAYS NOT TO CHOSE FROM,. BUT TAKE THEM AS THEY COME.

DEC 23,2008

2008-12-23T06:27:00.003-06:00

WELL IT'S TUESDAY, ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY. SUNS NOT UP YET BUT WHEN I LET THE DOGS OUT THE PORCH LIGHT SHOWED ANOTHER ADDITION OF SNOW HAD OCCURRED OVERNIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MEASURE IT BUT IN MOST PLACES THERE IS A GOOD FOOT OF SNOW AROUND YOUR FEET. IT KEEPS TRYING TO WEIGH DOWN PAT'S CHRISTMAS BLOWUPS (SANTA, ELVES, SNOW MEN ETC) BUT THE 20 MILE PER HOUR WINDS KEEP THEM BOBBING AND WEAVING ENOUGH TO STAY CLEAN. THE LAST COUPLE OF MORNINGS IT HAS REALLY BEEN CRUNCHY UNDER FOOT. IT HAS BEEN -19 THE LAST TWO MORNINGS. IT'S A WONDER THE ANIMALS LIVING OUTSIDE DON'T FREEZE SOLID. THE COWS, CALVES AND HEIFERS ARE ALL FINE. WE FEED THEM EXTRA CORN AND SILAGE ON THE COLD DAYS TO KEEP UP THEIR ENERGY. THE DEER, TURKEYS, RABBITS, EAGLES, WOODPECKERS, PIGEONS, ALL SEEM TO STAY ALIVE SOMEHOW. THE FOOT OF SNOW MUST MAKE FORAGING FOR FOOD A REAL CHALANGE. GOOD THING IS THATS ALL THEY HAVE TO DO ALL DAY.

AS FOR US POOR HUMANS, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER FOR OURSELVES AND FAMILY AND IF WE ARE SMART AND INDUSTRIOUS WE WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE FOR TODAY, TODAY, BUT WILL ALSO TRY TO PROVIDE FOR TOMORROW TODAY. GOT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT SAYS. ENGLISH TEACHERS WOULD SAY I HAVE TOO MANY TODAYS BUT I THINK NOT.

THIS MORNING ITS ABOUT +3 DEGREES OUT. A LITTLE EXTRA SNOW ON ALL THINGS OUTSIDE. IT'S NICE WHEN THINGS WARM UP A BIT. GOT 12 HEATER FRAMES WELDED AND CLEANED READY TO BE GALVANIZED. NEED TO FINISH THE WATERING TANKS AND A NEW SUMMER WATERER DESIGN AND CAN TAKE THE WHOLE WORKS TO THE GALVANIZER IN ST. PAUL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. WOW ANOTHER YEAR GONE BY. TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN. WORKING LIKE CRAZY AND STILL HAVE THINGS ON MY LIST TO GET DONE. PRETTY SOON I WILL HAVE ANOTHER YEAR TO ACCOMPLISH THEM.

NEED TO VACCINATE AND PUT POUR ON (KILLS THE GRUBS AND LICE ETC) ON THE HEIFERS AND CALVES YET. WE HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER AT OUR ACCOUNTANT ON THE 24TH, PETE HAS HIS FAMILY DINNER ON THE 26TH, MAYBE HE SHOULD HANDLE CATTLE ON THE 25TH? WOMEN SAY NOT. MAYBE ON SAT THE 27TH. TIME TO START WORKING ON EQUIPMENT SO EVERYTHING IS READY FOR NEXT YEAR. PART OF THAT PROVIDING FOR TOMORROW. (SAME OLD STUFF, DIFFERENT DAY OR I SHOULD SAY YEAR. IT NEVER SEEMS TO BE DONE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE MORE THIS NEXT SUMMER.)

I GUESS OUR ABILITY TO PLAN AND WORK FOR A BETTER TIME IN THE FUTURE IS WHAT MAKES US (MAN AND WOMAN) DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. PERHAPS SOME OF OUR SPECIES HAS NOT DEVELOPED THAT ABILITY. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LEARN THE PIECES OF DEVELOPING A WEB PRESENCE FOR "ABC PRODUCTS". FARMING IS A WONDERFUL LIFE STYLE BUT IT TAKES INCOME FROM ANOTHER SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT. WELL BACK TO MANUFACTURING AGAIN!!

WE HAVE ABC PRODUCTS LLC (SIMILAR TO ABC PRODUCTS INC, WHICH WE LAID TO REST) WHICH WILL MARKET THE HEATERS (MEGA-HEAT, TENT-HEAT) THE HANDICAPPED TOILET SEATS, CHIP PICKER AND SUMMER TIME CATTLE WATERERS TO START WITH. WILL STILL MAKE RAIL ROAD BRACKETS ALSO; PLUS TRY TO RENT THE HOUSES. TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

HAVE TO WORK ON THE MORSBACH FAMILY HOME. BUILT BY ?? MY GRANDFATHER CARL LIVED IN IT IN 1900 AND I, CARL, LIVED IN IT IN 2000; BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WAS BUILT. SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME ON FAMILY HISTORY ALSO. THE HOUSE IS SMALL FOR PAT AND I BECAUSE WE HAVE STUFF. WONDER HOW IT WORKED FOR SOME OF THE FAMILIES (WHO RAN THE FARM) THAT HAD 9 AND 13 KIDS. MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE THIS YEAR.
(LORD, I HOPE SO...I NEED SPACE)!!!

OH, BY THE WAY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND ALSO A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DEC 15, 2008

2008-12-15T08:25:00.003-06:00

9 BELOW THIS MORNING. SPENT MOST OF YESTERDAY WORKING ON THE WEB PAGES. FRIDAY WE PREG CHECKED THE COW HERD. BAD NEWS AS 16 OF THEM WERE OPEN! THEY WERE MOSTLY THE OLDER THIN COWS WE BOUGHT A FEW YEARS AGO. THE HERD IS NOW ONLY AT 69 MOMS. WE PUT IN THE 14 HEIFERS AND WE'RE AT 84, STILL 16 SHORT FROM THE 100 WHERE WE THINK THE BALANCE POINT IS.

DEC 14, 2008

2008-12-14T14:08:00.003-06:00

SUNDAY, SLEPT LATE, TOOK A NAP, MID AFTERNOON; IT'S BEEN RAINING, AND THE WIND IS BLOWING THE BIRDS OFF THE FEEDERS. PAT'S SANTA IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS REALLY BEING PUT TO THE TEST (STANDING UP). HE MAY BE PUT TO THE MOVING THROUGH THE TREES TEST LATER IN THE DAY. HOPE NOT!! IT'S ALMOST FORTY DEGREES, THE SNOW IS MELTING, THE DIRT IS MELTING (SLIPPERY MUD OVER HARD GROUND) IT'S SLIGHTLY RAINING- WHICH MAY CHANGE TO RAIN, HARDER-RAIN, SLEET/SNOW. THE WEATHER MAN IS CONFUSED (WHAT'S NEW) AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE IT AS IT COMES. SUPPOSED TO DROP TO AROUND -1 TONIGHT WITH THE WIND STILL BLOWING. DAMN THOSE COWS ARE TOUGH!

I HAVE A RED BELLIED WOODPECKER (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A ROBIN) ON THE FEEDER (THE WIND IS QUIET FOR A MOMENT) AND A DOWNY ON THE TREE WAITING HIS TURN. THE WIND PICKS UP AND THEY'RE BOTH BLOWN AWAY.

DEC 10, 2008

2008-12-10T06:49:00.002-06:00

WELL IT WAS 8 BELOW THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE ABOUT 6 INCHES OF SNOW. MAYBE I HAVE TO ADMIT WINTER IS HERE. HAVEN'T BLOGGED FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH UP ON LOOSE ENDS BEFORE WINTER. MONDAY WE GOT THE ROAD TO THE HAY FIELD ALONG THE RIVER COVERED WITH A LAYER OF CARPET AND 8 INCHES OF BREAKER ROCK. WILL WAIT UNTIL SPRING TO SEE IF WE NEED TO PUT DOWN ANOTHER LAYER OF CRUSHED ROCK. WE GOT TWO ORDERS OF RAILROAD PARTS DONE AND SHIPPED, GOT A HEATED WATER TANK OUT FOR THE HEIFERS, BUT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE FILLED WITH A HOSE EVERY DAY OR MAYBE TWICE. GOT ABOUT TWO MONTHS OF CANDY FOR THE YOUNG STOCK YESTERDAY AFTER THE MORNING SNOW AND BEFORE THE AFTERNOON WIND COMES. HAD THE WAGON BEHIND THE BLUE PICKUP, BUT EVEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING THAT LOAD UP THE 3 SNOW PACKED HILLS. IN THIS COUNTY WE DO MORE SANDING THAN SALTING SO FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER A SNOW STORM WE DRIVE ON SNOW PACK. IT TEACHES YOU TO SLOW DOWN AND BEHAVE YOURSELF.

WINTER AND SNOW ARE HERE SO INTO WINTER THINGS. FRIDAY IS PREGNANCY CHECK DAY (ABOUT 95+COWS AND 14 HEIFERS). ITS A TEAM EFFORT, THE VET PREG CHECKS, FOREST DOES POUR ON (BUG KILLER) AND SHOTS, PETE KEEPS THEM MOVING DOWN THE CHUTE, PAT KEEPS TRACK OF THE DATA BY COW TAG NUMBER, AND I RELAX, HAVE COFFEE AND WATCH. (YEAH RIGHT --- HAS TENDENCY TO GIVE LOTS OF ORDERS.) WE STILL HAVE TO GIVE SHOTS AND POUR ON TO THE CALVES TWICE (TWO WEEKS APART) AND THAT WILL FINISH OUR ANIMAL IMMUNE PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR.

HAD AN INQUIRY ABOUT RENTING THE SOUTH HOME YESTERDAY, BUT DID NOT READ THE EMAIL UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT. THEY ARE FRON TX AND WANT TO STAY FROM THE 24TH TO THE 28TH OF DEC. HAVE TO CALL THEM TODAY AND SEE IF IT'S SOMEBODY DREAMING OR FOR REAL. MAYBE THEY WANT A WHITE CHRISTMAS. IT WOULD BE NEAT TO HAVE SOMEONE STAY FOR CHRISTMAS. IF SO, WILL HAVE TO TURN THE WATER ON, THE HEAT ON, VACCUM THE BUGS UP, MAKE UP THE BEDS PLOW THE DRIVE, (PUT UP A CHRISTMAS TREE?). SOUNDS LIKE HE IS GOING TO BE BUSY, DON'T YOU THINK???

EQUIPMENT REPAIR TIME. GOT PLENTY OF THAT.

NOV 30, 2008

2008-11-30T21:56:00.000-06:00

NOV 26,2008

2008-11-26T20:47:00.007-06:00

HAD TO MAKE A QUICK RUN TO ILL. ON SUNDAY. WAS GOING TO LEAVE EARLY IN THE MORNING BUT BILL BLACK DIED ON FRIDAY. BILL OWNS THE LAND WHERE THE TRAIN CARS ARE KEPT AND THE SPOT WHERE THE TRAINS LEAVE FOR THE TIFFANY BOTTOMS TRAIN RIDES. BILL GREW UP IN THE BOTTOMS ON THE FAMILY FARM. HE TOLD ME THAT IN THE MORNING AFTER MILKING HE AND HIS BROTHER, EARL, WOULD WATCH TO SEE IF THE COWS WENT NORTH OR SOUTH. THAT WAY IN THE EVENING THEY WOULD GO IN THAT DIRECTION UNTIL THEY FOUND THE COWS. HE SAID THERE WERE NO FENCES, SO YOU JUST WALKED THE RAILROAD TRACKS UNTIL YOU FOUND THEM.

BILL AND I WERE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS (30'S, 40'S, 50'S) OF TIFFANY BOTTOMS BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY CALLED TIFFANY BOTTOMS. I DON'T KNOW WHY BILL WOULD LEAVE BEFORE WE DID, BUT HE DID. WE STAYED FOR THE VISITATION AND THEN LEFT FOR FREEPORT. HAD TO DATE STAMP SOME PARTS AND DRILL SOME SCREWS FOR HONEYWELL BRACKETS. ALSO HAD TO CHECK ON THE STUFF THAT DISAPPEARED FROM BEHIND THE SHOP. LOTS OF IT GONE. IT'S SAD THAT SOME PEOPLE AREN'T MATURE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES, BUT MUST TAKE FROM THE WORK OF OTHERS TO SURVIVE.

A FAST TRIP-DOWN ON SUNDAY NIGHT - GET ALL THE ITEMS ON THE TO-DO LIST ACCOMPLISHED - BACK ON TUESDAY MORNING. BROUGHT ANOTHER VAN LOAD OF MISC. OLD BOOKS, FAMILY HISTORY, COPIES OF 'FACT FICTION AND FANTASY (DAD'S MEMORIES THAT HE DICTATED AND PAT TYPED), CAMCORDER VCR (TAKES THE SMALL CAMERA TAPES), THE TAPES I'VE TAKEN, PLUS ANOTHER TOTE OF MISC. IT WILL TAKE 2 WEEKS TO FIND PLACES FOR THIS STUFF.

PATS DAUGHTER GOT A NEW COLT A WHILE BACK. DOLLAR IS HIS NAME. HE'LL GROW UP TO EAT A LOT OF HAY.
THAT MAKES A STABLE OF 4 1/4 HORSES. THEY DEARLY LOVE THESE HAY BURNERS. BIG PETS, I'M STILL ON LARGE DOGS. MAYBE NO HOPE FOR ME.
(I JUST NEED TO SAY THAT MY DAUGHTER IS VERY PROFICIENT IN TRAINING HER NEW COLT. SHE HAS DONE WONDERS WITH HIM. SHE USES THE PARELLI TECHNIQUES AND THEY SEEM TO WORK FOR HER. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, DARLING, I AM ALL FOR YOUR GOOD WORK. SHE IS ONE SPECIAL LADY, MAYBE THAT IS BECAUSE SHE BELONGS TO ME.)

NOV 22,2008

2008-11-22T07:26:00.008-06:00

SAT MORNING, THE FIRST DAY OF THE DEER GUN HUNT SEASON. OUR HUNTERS ARRIVED BEFORE DAWN, AS DID MANY HEARTY FOLKS WHO TRAILED THEIR BOAT TO THE LANDING, LAUNCHED IT, PARKED THE CAR AND TRAILER AWAY FROM THE LAUNCH, WITH ALL THEIR GEAR IN THE BOAT AND HEADED ACROSS THE RIVER TO THE TIFFANY BOTTOMS (13,500 ACRES OF WILDLIFE AREA) TO HUNT. ALL BEFORE DAWN. WOULD YOU CALL THESE FOLKS NIGHT OWLS OR PERHAPS MORNING OWLS! I TRIED TO TAKE A PANORAMA OF THE WHOLE LANDING BY WALKING DOWN THE STREET. THOUGHT IT WOULD SHOW EVERYTHING BIGGER. DOESN'T WORK! 31 CARS, MOST WITH TRAILERS ON OPENING MORNING.

GUESS WE NOW HAVE EVERYBODY IN THEIR WINTER PASTURES. WE HAVE SHIFTED FROM DOING FALL THINGS INTO DOING WINTER THINGS. ALL THE CROP STUFF IS DONE EXCEPT TO HAUL A COUPLE OF SEMI LOADS OF HAY (20 BALES (5' LONG BY 6 1/2 ' HIGH) ) FROM THE BOTTOMS. THEN WE CHOP THE STALKS FROM THE CORN IN THE BOTTOMS INTO A WAGON EACH DAY FOR THE BIG GIRLS. WE TORE APART A LONG FEED ELEVATOR AND SET ONE END ON A VW REAR AXEL I HAD SO WE HAD WHEELS ON ONE END AND MADE A STAND FOR THE OTHER, SO WE CAN MOVE IT WHEN NEEDED. THIS GIVES ALL THE CALVES A PLACE AT THE TABLE WHEN WE FEED THEM THEIR CANDY. EVERY MORNING WE FEED THEM SOME GROUND CORN AND PELLETS (CANDY) . YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL THEM TWICE. WE ALSO GIVE THE HEIFERS CANDY EVERY MORNING.

NOBODY HAS RENTED EITHER OF THE GUEST HOMES FOR HUNTING SEASON. WE ADVERTISED THE SOUTH HOME PLUS 240 ACRES OF HUNTING LAND, BUT NO ONE WANTED IT. OR MAYBE, THE RIGHT PERSON DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT. I THINK ALL OF THE VACATION RENTALS WERE DOWN THIS YEAR. NEED TO GET THESE RENTED FOR TWO REASONS. ONE IS THAT SELLING CALVES (OUR ONLY FARM PRODUCT) DOES NOT BRING IN ENOUGH CASH TO PAY THE FARM BILLS. A WONDERFUL LIFE STYLE (WORKING WITH THE LAND AND ANIMALS) BUT IT TAKES ANOTHER SOURCE OF INCOME TO MAKE IT A REALITY. THE SECOND REASON IS TO ALLOW FAMILIES LIVING IN THE CITIES TO COME AND ENJOY THE JOYS OF THE OUTDOORS AND THE WONDERS OF MOTHER NATURE. THIS WOULD PERHAPS BE MORE REWARDING .

I SIT HERE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE BIRD FEEDERS AND WATCH A CONSTANT ROTATION OF NUT HATCHES (THE BIRDS THAT WALK UPSIDE DOWN ON THE TREES) MALE AND FEMALE DOWNY WOODPECKERS, THE BIGGER RED BELLIED WOODPECKER (WHICH HIS BELLY IS SORT OF A GRAYISH COLOR AND HIS HEAD IS RED--IN MY WAY OF THINKING HE WAS NAMED WRONG), CARDINALS, BLUE JAYS, HAIRY WOODPECKERS (WHICH ARE A LARGER SIZED DOWNY), BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEES, DARK EYED JUNCOS, AMERICAN GOLD FINCHES AND MANY MORE THAT I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF AT THE MOMENT.

PAT HAS GRACIOUSLY TAKEN OVER MY BREAKFAST DETAIL AND MADE US BACON SANDWICHES SO I CAN KEEP WRITING. WHAT A SWEETHEART. GREAT SANDWICH (ACTUALLY WAS A BLT). HAVE TO GO AND FEED 200 PLUS CREATURES. THAT'S A LOT OF MOUTHS!

NOV 19, 2008

2008-11-19T22:52:00.006-06:00

HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TRENCH WATER TO THE HEIFERS AND COWS THIS WEEK. MONDAY THERE WAS NO WIRE-TRIP TO MENARDS IN EAU CLAIRE.

TUESDAY FIXED TRENCHER STUFF IN THE AM AND GOT STARTED TRENCHING AFTER NOON. CAUGHT A FEW WELL RODS (WERE HIDDEN UNDERGROUND) AND OTHER THINGS IN THE TRENCHER CHAIN, WHICH SLOWED US DOWN A BIT, BUT WE GOT THROUGH THE FENCE AND A FEW HUNDRED FEET INTO THE FIELD. WE WERE TRENCHING UNDER THE FROST LEVEL SO WERE FIVE FEET PLUS BELOW THE GROUND LEVEL. THE TRENCHER CHAIN MAKES AN EIGHT INCH WIDE TRENCH FIVE AND A HALF FEET DEEP. QUITE A JOB AND WE ONLY GET ABOUT 1 FOOT PER MINUTE DISTANCE. EVERYTHING WAS GOING REALLY SMOOTH.

WEDNESDAY WE MOVED THE COW HERD ALL AROUND THE FARM AND TO A PASTURE ALONG BEAR PEN ROAD. AFTER FEEDING AND OTHER MISC. CHORES, WE STARTED TRENCHING AGAIN. EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING LIKE A CLOCK. THE RUN TO THE HEIFER PASTURE WAS ABOUT HALF DONE, THE TRENCH RIGHT BEHIND THE MACHINE WAS PARTLY FULL OF DIRT AND THE PIPE WAS BROKEN OFF. I'M NOW IN SAND AND THE SIDE WALLS ARE COLLAPSING BEFORE THE PIPE IS IN THE BOTTOM. NOT AT ALL GOOD. THE SOIL FROM HERE TO WHERE THE DRINKERS GO IS MORE SANDY THAN IT IS NOW.

THURSDAY MORNING THE SUN IS SHINING, THE WIND IS BLOWING (HOWLING) AND IT'S JUST BELOW FREEZING. WHAT A DISCOURAGING DAY. WOULD LIKE TO DUMP THE WHOLE PROJECT.

NOV 16, 2008

2008-11-16T21:16:00.006-06:00

I HOPE YOU KNOW YOU CAN LEFT CLICK ON ANY OF THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE THEM. THEN YOU CAN DO A CTL/+ TO ENLARGE IT FURTHER. DO IT MANY TIMES

WE WERE TAKING DOWN THE WATER TANK YOU CAN SEE IN THE VERY LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE PANORAMA WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE FALL TURNING TO WINTER, AND I HAD TO TAKE THE PICTURE.

WE HAD PLANED TO GO TO MENOMINE SUN AND SHOP UNTIL JOHN CALLED AT 7:02 TO SAY HE WAS READY TO COMBINE THE CORN IN THE BOTTOMS. THAT CHANGED THE DAY PLANS. RUSHED TO GET GRAVITY BOXES READY TO HAUL CORN, GET EVERYBODY FED, CHOP ONE LAST FEED WAGON OF GRASS FROM THE NEW FIELD IN THE BOTTOMS AND MISC OTHER THINGS.

NOV 12, 2008

2008-11-12T07:49:00.010-06:00

YESTERDAY IT SNOWED ALMOST ALL DAY. WHEN IT WASN'T SNOWING IT WAS RAINING. IT DEFINITELY WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF DAY TO WORK IN. WE MOVED HEIFERS INTO MACHINERY ROW FOR THEIR WINTER PASTURE (THEY WERE HAPPY) BUT WE COULD NOT GET THE ELECTRIC FENCE TO WORK. PETE WALKED THE FENCE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I RAN THE ATV AROUND THE FENCE AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. WE DISCONNECTED PARTS OF THE FENCE AND FOUND THE LOWER WIRE DIDN'T SHORT THE FENCE BUT THE UPPER WIRE DID. I TOOK OFF WALKING THE FENCE LINE AND LOW AND BEHOLD ABOUT HALF WAY AROUND, THE ELECTRIC WIRE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE BARB WIRE FENCE. PRETTY OBVIOUS, HOW COULD BOTH OF US MISS THAT IN THE RAIN? SOME TIMES THE LORD THINKS WE NEED MORE PRACTICE.

THIS MORNING EVERYTHING IS WHITE, AND SLIPPERY. BUT WE POURED CEMENT FOR A WATERER AFTER WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET UP THE HILL. THE SNOW AND WET GRASS AND SOFT EARTH, ALL WE DID WAS SPIN AND SLIDE SIDEWAYS. 4 WHEEL DRIVE GETS YOU MOST PLACES, BUT NOT HERE. WENT NORTH A WAYS WHERE THERE IS SORT OF A ROAD CARVED INTO THE HILL RUNNING AT AN ANGLE UP THE HILL, AND WE MADE IT TO THE TOP. THEN "SNUCK" UP ON THE BACK SIDE. WE GOT IT POURED IN THE RAIN/SNOW. THAT DONE WE HAVE ONE TO GO.

GOT THE NOSE WHEEL ON THE TRENCHER BACK TOGETHER WITH ALL NEW BEARINGS AND SEALS. A TOUGH PROJECT, AS MUCH OF THE ROLLER AND PIN PIVOT PARTS WERE BADLY BEAT UP. A LOT OF SALVAGE WORK. I FELT LIKE A DENTIST FIXING ALL THOSE LITTLE SPOTS. NEXT WE HAD TO GET THE CHAIN THAT DIGS THE DIRT BACK ONTO THE BOOM AND SPROCKETS. WE WORKED IN THE RAIN AND MUD (TRENCHER WILL NOT FIT INSIDE ANY OF THE BUILDINGS) FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS; GOT THE CHAIN ONTO THE BOOM BUT COULD NOT GET THE PIN COUPLING THE LINKS TOGETHER INTO THE CHAIN. COULD NOT PULL THE CHAIN ENDS TOGETHER TO WHERE THE HOLES LINED UP. FINALLY FOUND (AFTER MUCH PULLING, PUSHING, GRUNTING AND CURSING) THE BOOM WAS EXTENDED OUT TOO FAR. WE HAD TAKEN THE BOOM OFF THE MACHINE TO PRESS THE PIN OUT OF THE WHEEL (THAT WAS GOOD BECAUSE THERE WAS FINE SAND EVERYWHERE FROM WHEN THE BOOM WAS IN THE GROUND AND WE GOT 3 INCHES OF RAIN AND THE TRENCH WASHED FULL OF FINE SAND AND LOCKED EVERYTHING UP. JUST LIKE AT THE BEACH). WE WASHED EVERYTHING UP, BUT WHEN WE PUT THE BOOM BACK ON THE MACHINE WE HADN'T SLID IT (PUT THE END OF THE BOOM AGAINST A TREE AND DROVE INTO IT) IN, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ADJUSTER ALL THE WAY CLOSED. WE LOOSENED THE ADJUSTER AND CALLED IT A COLD DAY.

WENT TO BED AT SIX THIRTY. GOT UP AT SEVEN THIRTY TODAY, FEEL RESTED AND READY TO POUND OUT ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY!!!

WOW, I REALLY GOT CONFUSED WITH THE BIG PARAGRAPH ABOUT THE TRENCHER, BOOM AND ALL THE PARTS. WHEN THIS IS READ, HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON UP HERE IN THE NORTH WOODS! SOMETIMES I THINK WE ARE ALL A LITTLE BIT "CRAZY".

NOV 10, 2008

2008-11-10T07:59:00.004-06:00

LOOKS ALMOST LIKE FALL/WINTER IS COMING. GROUND IS FROZEN IN THE MORNING AND MELTS DURING THE DAY. THAT'S WHAT MAKES NEW SOIL. ALSO MAKES THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SHOES CARRY IT ONTO THE KITCHEN CARPET SO THE HOUSE MASTER CAN HAVE EXTRA CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TRACKERS. EVERYONE NEEDS AN OPPORTUNITY.

THIS WINTER AFTER THE FALL WORK IS DONE MAYBE WE WILL GET PORTABLE SPACE HEATERS AND HANDICAPPED TOILET SEATS INTO PRODUCTION AND FIRE UP ABC PRODUCTS AGAIN.
I HAVE PARTS ON HAND FOR MAKING BOTH OF THESE, AND IT WILL BE ENJOYABLE TO GET BACK TO BUILDING PRODUCTS. THEN I NEED A WEBSITE TO SELL ON. MAYBE EVEN TO TAKE ORDERS AND CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CHALLENGE. ONLY IN AMERICA CAN YOU TRY TO PUT YOUR IDEAS INTO PRACTICE AND IF SUCCESSFUL, SHARE YOUR REWARDS WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT. WHAT A PLACE WHAT A LIFE.

IT'S NOW THAT TIME OF THE DAY WHERE I SHIFT FROM WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TO WHAT I NEED AND HAVE TO DO. FEED MOMS AND KIDS, PUT UP FENCE AND MOVE HEIFERS, TRY TO GET TRENCHER WORKING, CHECK ON POURING PADS BEHIND NORTH RENTAL HOME, CUT FIRE WOOD TO KEEP SHOP WARM, CONVERT OLD ELEVATOR TO CALF FEED TROUGH (SO EVERYBODY HAS A PLACE AT THE TABLE), MAKE A BUNCH OF PHONE CALLS, ETC. WHAT A DAY. AND...WITH ALL THAT, I AM READY FOR A NAP (ME, PAT, NOT CARL. OF COURSE, I SHOULDN'T BE TIRED BECAUSE I AM ONLY THE MAID AND THE COMPUTER/ACCOUNTING GURU, (WHATEVER THAT IS). SOME TIMES I CAN REALLY MESS THINGS UP, BUT THAT JUST GIVES CARL SOMETHING EXTRA TO DO AND HE REALLY NEEDS THE EXPERIENCE. MY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE SO SMALL!! I CAN LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AND THERE IS A BIG RED BELLIED WOODPECKER PECKING AT THE SUET PACK. DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CALL HIM THAT AS HIS BELLY IS GREY AND THE BACK OF HIS HEAD IS BRIGHT RED. SOMETIMES I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

NOV 9, 2008

2008-11-09T07:46:00.005-06:00

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY. JUST GOT UP AND NEED TO FIND OUT THE WEATHER AND OTHER PARTS OR REALITY. AN OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO. WELL MAYBE I COULD DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS PLUS THE THINGS I NEED TO DO, AND THE THINGS I HAVE TO DO. THE RED SQUIRREL IS OUT EATING ON THE BIRD SEED PACK. YESTERDAY THERE WES A GRAY SQUIRREL CHECKING OUT THE FEEDERS. THOSE LITTLE REDS ARE SO FAST AND FERROCIOUS THEY CHASE OFF THE GRAYS. NOT A GOOD PICTURE. ITS TAKEN THROUGH THE SCREEN WHICH DOESEN'T HELP THE FOCUS, PLUS THE LITTLE DEVIL JUMPS ON THE FEEDER FROM THE TREE SO THE FEEDER IS SWINGING BACK AND FOURTH. HE HANGS UPSIDE DOWN SO HE CAN GET A SEED FROM THE BOTTOM, THEN SWINGS AROUND AND SITS ON TOP OF THE FEEDER TO EAT IT.

MADE BACON SANDWICHES FOR BREAKFAST TODAY. IT'S 25 DEGREES AND SPITTING SNOW TODAY. SURE WISH I COULD WRITE FASTER. HOPE TO GET THE NOSE ROLLER FOR THE TRENCHER BACK TOGETHER, BECAUSE I STILL WOULD LIKE TO GET WATER RUN TO THE COW WINTER PASTURE THIS WEAR. THE BAGS ARE FILLED (SHOULD BE THREE) AND THE POWER HIGHLINES ARE UP (NOTE POLE IN CENTER OF CORN FIELD). DIDNT THINK FARMING WOULD INVOLVE SETTING POWER POLES, BUT YOU DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE. IT'S SNOWING A LITTLE HARDER NOW AND I HAVE TO FEED THE BIG GIRLS, CHECK ON THE TEENAGERS, AND KNOCK DOWN SILAGE FOR THE KIDS TODAY.

DON'T WE ALL WISH WE HAD SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T. I WISH MY CAMERA HAD A REMOTE SHUTTER, SO THAT I COULD SET IT UP IN PLACES AND LET THE BIRDS GET USED TO IT AND THEN TAKE THE PICTURE. BY THE TIME I MOVE THE CAMERA INTO POSITION I SCARE THEM AWAY. IF I DON'T SCARE THEM OFF GETTING THERE, I DO BEFORE I GET IT FOCUSED AND READY TO TAKE. REMOTE WOULD BE NICE. CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING. HAVE ALMOST EVERYTHING. LIFE IS GOOD.

ONE DOG OUTSIDE, ONE DOG INSIDE, PAT IS FILLING VITAMINS, AND PREPARING THE MEAT FOR SUPPER, AND I'M TRYING TO WRITE. WHISH I COULD WRITE FASTER. HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

NOV 7, 2008

2008-11-07T06:24:00.004-06:00

IT'S BEEN RAINING A LITTLE FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS. A FEW SPRINKLY SHOWERS MAYBE ONE MODERATE RAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. NOT HAVING RAIN ALL SUMMER IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT TO HAVE SOMETHING OTHER THAN COW POOP STUCK TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SHOES. FARMING IS AN OUTDOOR SPORT, THEREFORE YOU WORK IN WHAT THE LORD GIVES YOU THAT DAY. WE 'RE JUST LIKE THE POSTMAN (OR WOMEN)!!

YESTERDAY WE WORKED ON ADDING SOME SOIL AROUND THE ALL SEASON WATERER BEHIND THE NORTH HOUSE. IT WAS THE FIRST HYDRANT WE SET, WHICH CAME OUT ABOUT 6 INCHES TOO HIGH. SHOULD HAVE DUG A BIGGER HOLE. LIVE AND LEARN? WE HAD A FAIRLY NICE SHORT RAIN YESTERDAY MORNING. OF COURSE WE MOVED THE DIRT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. WE PACKED IT DOWN WITH THE TRACTOR TIRE. WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE MOVED THE DIRT THE DAY BEFORE AND LET THE RAIN SETTLE IT. SEEMS LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE A KNACK OF DOING THINGS A DAY LATE(AND WE'RE ALWAYS A DOLLAR SHORT!). AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURE WE HAVE OUR NORMAL SUPERVISION. SOME TIMES WE INVITE HIM AND OTHER TIMES HE JUST SHOWS UP.

IT'S 7AM AND GETTING LIGHT OUT. IT'S SNOWING QUITE NICELY. LIKE THE POSTMAN. TODAY WE HAVE TO FEED SILAGE, GREEN CHOP FOR THE COWS, BUILD FENCE FOR THE HEIFERS TO HAVE A WINTER HOME, AND FIX THE TRENCHER'S NOSE ROLLER.

NRCS WAS OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WE TOOK GPS READINGS OF THE WATERER LOCATIONS AND THE WATER LINE ROUTES. THEY WILL SUPERIMPOSE THIS ON A FLY-OVER PICTURE TO GIVE A VERY NICE RECORD OF THE PROJECT. LATER I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS FOR PASTURE BOUNDARIES, TREE STAND SITES AND OTHER LANDMARKS. AS WE WERE TAKING READINGS WE RAN INTO THIS SET OF BIRCH TREES. IT'S BEEN A WARM FALL THIS YEAR WITH A LOT OF PRETTY FALL COLORS.

GOD'S COUNTRY IS GREAT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

NOV 5, 2008

2008-11-05T21:18:00.009-06:00

WELL WE GOT A NEW LEADER TODAY. VOTED FOR OR AGAINST HIM, WE NEED TO GET BEHIND HIM AND TURN CHANGE INTO REALITY. THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHED DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A COMMON PERSON TO WORK HARD AND BECOME AN ELECTED LEADER MAKES MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND CULTURES WISH THEY HAD SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS FALL WE BURIED 4,644 FEET OF WATER LINE TO PROVIDE WATER IN ALL THE PADDOCKS (8 ACRE PASTURES). FIVE WATERING LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN LOCATED WITH THREE HAVING CEMENT PADS COMPLETED. GOING TO COMPLETE THE NEXT ONE TODAY (NOV 6). TRENCHER BROKE, WE ARE FIXING IT, NEED TO RUN ANOTHER 1,000 FEET OR SO TO THE SIXTH LOCATION. THEN WE CAN POUR THE FIFTH PAD. HOPEFULLY, MAYBE THIS WEEK.

PAT CAME BACK TODAY UNEXPECTEDLY (WENT TO IL TO VOTE AND SEE HORSE) AND HAD TO PICK UP AND CLEAN UP AFTER ME WHEN SHE GOT BACK. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T COMMUNICATE. SHE COULD HAVE BROUGHT ME A GALLON OF MILK, BUT SHE WOULDN'T CALL. (WHEN I GOT BACK, YOU WERE IN EAU CLAIRE GETTING YOUR CEMENT FOR MORE PADS AND COULD HAVE STOPPED AT ALDI'S AND GOT YOUR OWN MILK. BUT NO, JUST TOO LAZY, I GUESS!) IT IS NICE TO HAVE HER BACK.
PAT AND PETE DO ALL THE WORK, WHICH ALLOWS ME TO RELAX AND WATCH THE CORN GROW. WHAT A LIFE!!

HAD OUR FIRST NOVEMBER THUNDER STORM ON TUES MORNING. IT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE JULY-AUG STORMS THAT GOT LOST. THE CORN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT NOW. WELL WE NEED THE SOIL MOISTURE FOR NEXT YEAR. TWO CRAPPY DRY YEARS IN A ROW. IT'S GOOD TO GET THE BAD YEARS OVER SO WE CAN ENJOY THE GOOD ONES.

APPARENTLY SOMEONE DID SOME ROAD POACHING, BUT THE BUCK GOT AWAY. NICE BUCK. YOU CAN SEE THE BULLET HOLE THAT GOT HIM.

WHAT A THING TO BE LOOKING AT WHEN I WAS EATING MY LUNCH, YUK!!!

NOV 3, 2008

2008-11-03T06:41:00.009-06:00

BEEN A LONG TIME. BEEN A NICE SUMMER. BEEN A PRETTY FALL. ALL IS WELL IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.

COWS ARE IN FROM THE PASTURES, AND WE'RE FEEDING THEM ALREADY. IT WAS A POOR YEAR FOR CORN (NO RAIN) ONLY HAVE TWO SILAGE BAGS (NORMALLY HAVE THREE) AND BECAUSE WE FEED THE HERD FOR ABOUT A MONTH DURING THE SUMMER (PASTURES WERE NOT GROWING (NO RAIN)). WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT ON HAY. USUALLY WE HAVE MORE FEED THAN WE NEED. SECOND CRAPPY YEAR IN A ROW. MIGHT AS WELL GET THE BAD YEARS OVER. NEXT YEAR HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME RAIN (WE'LL PROBABLY DROWN).

SAVED FIFTEEN GIRL CALVES (BORN LAST SPRING) THIS SPRINGS (HEIFERS) AND BOUGHT A GOOD LOOKING BOY (BULL) TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. GAVE THEM EXTRA GRAIN AND FEED, THEY'RE LOOKING VERY GOOD. ONE DIED, SO WE HAVE 14 NEW MEMBERS OF THE MAIN HERD FOR NEXT YEAR.

THIS SPRINGS CALVES ARE LOOKING VERY GOOD. HAVE LOST ONLY TWO THIS FALL. WE FOUND ONE NICE STEER WITH HIS HEAD CAUGHT IN THE FEEDER ONE MORNING, APPARENTLY THE CALVES ATE THE BOTTOM OF THE HAY BALE SO IT LOOKED SORT OF LIKE A MUSHROOM AND IT FELL OVER TRAPPING HIM. WE SAID WHY COULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN THE RUNT CALF WE HAVE. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY! WE FOUND THE RUNT JUST LAID OUT DEAD ABOUT A WEEK LATER. COULD SEE NO REASON FOR IT. MOVED THE KIDS TO THEIR WINTER LOT. THEY HAVE THEIR SILAGE BAG, THEIR LICK TANK; WILL MOVE THEIR BALE FEEDER AND GROUND CORN STUFF LATER IN THE WEEK.

ALL FOR NOW FROM THE NORTH WOODS!!! GUESS WHO IS BACK!!

JUNE 9,2008

2008-06-09T07:49:00.002-05:00

BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE LAST BLOG. TRY THIS LINK TO MAP OF WEBSITE.
HOPE IT WORKS.

MAY 2 2008

2008-05-02T08:21:00.011-05:00

IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG SINCE THE LAST BLOG. THINGS ARE VERY BUSY WITH SPRING HERE.
SOMETIMES YOU SEEM TO GO BACKWARDS. REFERENCE THE ROBINS NEST ON MY STATION WAGON'S REAR TIRE. EVERYONE SAYS I CAN'T MOVE IT UNTIL THE EGGS ARE HATCHED AND THE BABIES FLY. THATS A LONG TIME. PAT IS BACK UP FOR A WEEK...OR MORE WHICH HELPS A LOT.
PAT HAS BEEN BUSY FEEDING HER BABY CALF (I SAY THAT BECAUSE --LOOK AT THE PICTURE-- TELLS THE STORY). SOMETIMES IT'S UP AND RUNNING AND THE NEXT TIME SHE'S DOWN AND DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO WALK. PAT THINKS SHE'S KILLING HER.... NOT.

YESTERDAY, SUNDAY, WAS A GOOD DAY FOR JASMINE. SHE WAS AS NORMAL AS COULD BE.
I SURE WISH I KNEW WHAT HER PROBLEM WAS. SHE IS SO ADORABLE. SHE COMES WHEN
I CALL HER AND REALLY DOES RECOGNIZE THAT BOTTLE.
HOPEFULLY WHEN I GET HER OUT OF HER HORSE TRAILER, SHE WILL BE AS GOOD AGAIN! YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WITH HER.

THE GEESE ARE DOING WELL. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PICTURE, THEY ARE QUITE ATTENTIVE TO THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THEIR LOCATION AND WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM.

WELL, GUESS WHAT, I MADE A MISTAKE, AS USUAL AND LOST THE PICTURE OF THE GEESE. MY RESIDENT COMPUTER GENIUS WILL HAVE TO COME IN AND PUT IT BACK IN. HE SURE IS GOOD...WHEN I MAKE MISTAKES. BUT, THAT'S NATURAL!!! IT LOOKS LIKE I LOST THE PICTURE OF THE EGGS, ALSO. BETTER QUIT FOR NOW SO THAT I DON'T LOSE THE PICTURE OF THE CALF. WILL RETURN LATER!!

2008-04-28T06:50:00.004-05:00

WELL, GUESS WHAT, I'M BACK AGAIN, (PAT, THAT IS). CARL SAYS THAT WHEN I DO ANYTHING ON THE BLOG THAT I NEED TO DO IT IN ITALICS SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS IT IS SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN HIM DOING IT. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TELL THAT BY THE WRITING. THEY ARE QUITE DIFFERENT TO SAY THE LEAST!!

CARL IS STILL SLEEPING, I THINK, SHEP WENT BACK UPSTAIRS FOR A SHORT SNOOZE WITH HIM. JUST LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD. I ARRIVED ON SATURDAY AROUND 4:00 AND WAS GREATLY SURPRISED...I HAD TO FEED JASMINE THE FIRST THING. SHE SURE IS A CUTE LITTLE GAL. SHE NURSES REAL WELL. I FED HER AGAIN AT 8:00 AT NIGHT. BELIEVE ME WHEN SUNDAY MORNING CAME, SHE WAS READY TO EAT AGAIN. WE LET HER OUT OF THE HORSE TRAILER AFTER SHE HAD HER NOON LUNCH TO RUN AROUND THE YARD. SHE WAS RUNNING, FALLING AROUND AND KICKING UP HER HEELS. SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME. SHE IS A REAL TREAT TO WATCH. CARL DOES NOT LIKE HER NAME AS JASMINE AS HE SAYS THAT HE WILL FEEL SILLY GOING OUT IN THE FIELD AND CALLING HER TO COME TO HIM WITH A NAME LIKE THAT. I THINK IT IS CUTE. TAMMY NAMED HER. HE CAN CALL HER WHAT HE WANTS, I'M GOING TO CALL HER JASMINE. SHE WILL COME TO MORE THAN ONE NAME. HE IS GOING TO KEEP HER AND PUT HER IN THE HERD. AT LEAST WE MAY HAVE ONE COW (WHEN SHE GROWS UP) THAT WILL NOT BE WILD AND RUN WHEN YOU COME UP TO HER. I SURE HOPE SO.

WALKED OUT TO SEE THE DUCKS ON THE POND. I GUESS MAMA DUCK WAS SITTING ON HER EGGS. I DIDN'T GET TOO CLOSE AS I DID NOT WANT TO DISTURB HER. WHEN TRYING TO WALK THROUGH THE COWS WITH THE NEW CALVES, THEY GOT REAL UPSET WHEN THEY SEEN THAT BOOTS WAS THERE. THEY TRIED TO TRAMPLE HIM AND DID A LITTLE BIT. POOR BOOTS WITH HIS LAMP SHADE ON HIS HEAD TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. CARL HAD HIM ON A LEASH. I TURNED AND RAN BACK A LITTLE OUT OF THE WAY. (COWARD) BETTER THAN GETTING TRAMPLED. FINALLY I GOT IN FRONT OF CARL AND SHOOED THEM OUT OF THE WAY. BIG BRAVE ME!!!

WE HAD RAIN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, SNOW ON THE CARS AROUND 12:30 ON MONDAY MORNING WHEN I LET BOOTS OUT TO GO POTTY. HE HAD ENOUGH OF BEING IN THE HOUSE.

IT IS NOW MONDAY MORNING AROUND 6:45 AND OUR RESIDENT SQUIRREL IS SITTING ON THE BIRD FEEDER GETTING HIS BREAKFAST. HE SURE IS A PEST. PRETTY SOON YOU WILL HEAR HIM RUNNING AROUND IN THE ATTIC. WHEN I FIRST CAME UP, I LOOKED IN THE SILVERWARE DRAWER AND GUESS WHAT I FOUND. MR. RESIDENT SQUIRREL HAD GOTTEN INTO THE HOUSE SOMEHOW AND HAD CARRIED CARL'S CHOCOLATE STARS FROM THE COUNTER TOP ON THE STOVE INTO THE BACK OF THE DRAWER. HE HAD QUITE A STASH! HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW HE GETS IN THE HOUSE BUT HE'S A GOOD HOUDINI. WOULD GIVE A MAGICIAN A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY!

LORD, IT'S 7:13 BY THE COMPUTER CLOCK AND BOTH CARL AND SHEP ARE FAST ASLEEP. I NEED TO GO UPSTAIRS AND GET DRESSED SO THAT I CAN GO FEED MY LITTLE CALF, JASMINE, AS SHE WILL BE PRETTY HUNGRY BY NOW.

APRIL 16, 2008

2008-04-16T20:44:00.005-05:00

BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE THIS MORNING.

CALF SUCKED DOWN TWO QUARTS OF MILK THIS MORNING AND WANTED MORE. NO FOOLING AROUND, GIMME THE BOTTLE! PETE AND I CLEANED THE MORSBACH FARMS SOUTH GUEST HOME IN PREPARATION FOR 3 HUNTERS COMING TONIGHT. PETE'S A PRETTY GOOD HOUSEKEEPER, EVEN MOVED THE COUCH AND END TABLES WHEN HE VACUUMED.
LATER PETE HAULED AND SPREAD YOU KNOW WHAT UNTIL HE HAD THE BARNYARD CLEAN. I MIXED PAINT AND PAINTED THE INSIDE OF THE BIG GRAVITY BOX. FINALLY HAD TO PUT IT INSIDE BECAUSE OF RAIN POSSIBILITIES.
GREG BROUGHT THE CATTLE TRAILER BACK, SPREAD SOME STRAW ON THE FLOOR AND BROUGHT CALF BACK TO HER APARTMENT. FED CALF A QUART OF ELECTROLYTES AT NOON. SHE SAID GIMME THAT BOTTLE. WHO KNOWS SHE MAY EVEN LIVE. THANK YOU LORD!

PULLED POSTS AND ROLLED UP THE PLASTIC FROM THE CALVES SILAGE BAG. WILL USE THIS TO WRAP GREEN BALES FOR THE SUMMER. LAST THING BEFORE PETE LEAVES, WE TAKE A TOUR OF THE COW PASTURE. HAVEN'T HAD ANY CALVES FOR MANY A DAY. WE HAD TO SEARCH, BUT FOUND A BRAND NEW MALE CALF HOURS OLD. MAMA WAS HIDING HIM. ALSO A TREE HAD FALLEN ACROSS THE FENCE, SHORTING IT OUT. HAD TO FIX THAT.

WENT BACK TO THE HOME AND CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT, LEFT THE HOUSE BOOK, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THE WHAT AND WHERE OF EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE ON THE COFFEE TABLE. IT'S NOT COMPLETE, BUT WHATS NEW.

SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THE SQUIRRELS?

APRIL 14, 2008

2008-04-15T07:31:00.002-05:00

THE CALF TOOK A QUART OF MILK THIS MORNING. A GOOD SIGN. WAS SCHEDULED TO DO PLUMBING AT MORSBACH FARMS NORTH GUEST HOME, BUT REPAIRED THE POOP SPREADER. THE FRAME WAS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. SOME BOLTS WERE ALSO MISSING AND OTHER MINOR THINGS. GOT THAT FIXED, PETE STARTED HAULING AND SPREADING.

BROUGHT THE LARGE GRAVITY BOX IN AND TOOK THE ROOF OFF AND SET IT IN THE BULL PEN. NEED TO GET CORN GROUND FOR THE HEIFERS. THESE GIRLS NEED ALL THE HELP GROWING THEY CAN GET. NEED TO PAINT THE INSIDE OF THE BOX BEFORE WE FILL IT.

WENT TO THE NORTH HOUSE TO DO PLUMBING. THE CARPENTERS WILL BE HERE WEDNESDAY AND I NEED SOME OF THE PLUMBING DONE BY THEN. WHEN I WAS JUST GETTING INTO IT, GREG (BUFFALO GUY) SHOWS UP AND ASKS TO BORROW THE CATTLE TRAILER TO TAKE TWO BUFFALO TO THE BIG RANCH IN THE SKY. WE HAD TO MOVE LITTLE CALF INTO THE SHOP AND FIX A MAKE- SHIFT PEN FOR THE NIGHT. A PAIN. SHE DRANK TWO QUARTS OF MILK THOUGH.

WAS TIRED, MY COMPUTER WOULDN'T WORK, I WENT TO BED.

APRIL 13, 2008

2008-04-13T17:22:00.006-05:00

PUT HOT COMPRESSES ON BOOT'S HEAD YESTERDAY AND TODAY, WHICH HAS HELPED TO STOP THE BLEEDING. WILL DO IT AGAIN TONIGHT. ABOUT NOON I FOUND THE CALF WAS STILL ALIVE, SO I MIXED A QUART OF ELECTROLYTE AND SHE SUCKED IT DOWN. SHE WAS ACTIVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP AND TRY TO PUSH HER WAY OUT OF THE CAB.

DID HOT COMPRESSES AGAIN AND BOOT'S HEAD HAS QUIT LEAKING. IT MUST BE HEALING BECAUSE HE NOW WANTS TO SCRATCH IT WITH HIS BACK LEG. GOOD THING FOR THE LAMPSHADE. TOMORROW I WILL CALL TOM TO FIND OUT WHAT TO CLEAN THE CAKED BLOOD ETC AND A LOTION TO SOFTEN THE AREA.

THE CALF DRANK ANOTHER QUART OF ELECTROLYTE TONIGHT. MAY BE A GOOD SIGN. SEE IF SHE'S STILL ALIVE TOMORROW. GOOD LOOKING HEIFER CALF.
GOT THE ELECTRICITY HOOKED UP AT THE NORTHERN WISCONSIN VACATION HOME CALLED MORSBACH FARMS NORTH GUEST HOME. THE FURNACE IS READY TO BE REMOVED SO THAT WORK CAN BEGIN ON SHEET ROCKING. MAYBE MONDAY I'LL START CLEANING UP SOME MESS AND SORTING THINGS TO STAY AND GO.
SATURDAY THE 19TH IS ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION'S SAND HILL CRANE COUNT DAY. CRANES ARE COUNTED ALL OVER THE MIDWEST FROM 5:30 TO 7:30 IN THE MORNING. I'LL HAVE TO CALL THE COUNTY COORDINATOR TOMORROW AND SEE WHATS HAPPENING IN PEPIN COUNTY. MAYBE I'LL COUNT SAND HILL CRANES ON SATURDAY. I'VE SEEN THEM AROUND THE POND, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE NESTED THERE.

TALKED WITH THE GUYS WHO RUN THE HANDCAR TRAINS IN TIFFANY BOTTOMS ACROSS THE RIVER. DAD ALWAYS SAID HE HAD TO ROW PEOPLE OVER TO CATCH THE TRAIN WHEN HE WAS A KID BECAUSE HE HAD THE BOAT. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FUN.
GOT THE TRENCHER GOING TODAY. I NEED TO GET WATERERS IN THIS SPRING.

PICTURE OF EAGLES NEST ACROSS THE CHIPPEWA RIVER FROM THE NORTH VACATION HOME OF MORSBACH FARMS GUEST HOMES.

APRIL 12 2008

2008-04-12T06:48:00.007-05:00

BEEN A BUSY WEEK. BEHIND ON BLOGGING, AND MANY OTHER THINGS. IT'S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON. ONE OF THE SQUIRRELS BROKE THE FEEDER.

BOOTS BARKED THIS MORNING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WEEK. LAST MONDAY WE STARTED OUT IN PETE'S TRUCK TO JUMP START A TRACTOR, AND AS USUAL BOOTS WAS TRYING TO GNAW THE TIRES OFF THE TRUCK. WELL IT FINALLY CAUGHT HIM AND I RAN OVER HIS HEAD. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT. TOOK HIM TO THE VET, LOST HIS RIGHT EYE, AND STITCHES IN HIS HEAD, BUT JAW SEEMS OK, LOST A MOLAR AND A HALF AND A LOT OF FACE FUR. ANTIBIOTICS AND PAIN PILLS. BY WEDNESDAY A LOT OF BLOOD IN HIS DRINKING WATER, WHEN OUTSIDE HIS INCISION BEGAN TO DRAIN. HE WAS PAWING HIS FACE SO ON WENT THE LAMPSHADE ON HIS HEAD. HE DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT. POOR GUY HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND COMFORATABLE SPOTS. SAT NIGHT I PUT HOT COMPRESSES ON THE WOUND, AND IT'S ONLY ABOUT HALF THE DRAINAGE THIS MORNING.

THE SUN IS SHINING THIS MORNING, WHAT A DELIGHTFUL CHANGE. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER TODAY WAIT UNTIL TOMMORROW. WEDNESDAY WE HAD TWO CALVES SHOW UP, ONE WAS BEING MOTHERED, THE OTHER WAS LAYING BY HIMSELF. MOST OF THE COWS WERE AT THE FEED BAGS BECAUSE WE JUST OPENED THEM SOME MORE, AND WE ASSUMED MOM WAS OVER EATING. SHE MOVED AROUND THE WOODS TNE NEXT DAY BUT NEVER SAW A MOM. YESTERDAY MORNING PETE BROUGHT HER IN AND SHE SUCKED DOWN MOST OF A BOTTLE. BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING, SNOWING AND WIND BLOWING LIKE CRAZY,WE PUT HER IN THE OLD PICKUP CAB. LAST NIGHT I GAVE HER A SHOT OF ANITBIOTICS BUT SHE ONLY TOOK ABOUT 1/4 OF A BOTTLE. HAVE TO SEE IF SHE SURVIVED THE NIGHT. SHE PROBABALLY WON'T MAKE IT. I NEED TO LEARN IF THERE IS NO MOM I NEED TO TAKE THE CALF. IF MOM WON'T TAKE CARE OF HER CALF, SHE NEEDS TO GO TO MARKET.

WEDNESDAY MORNING ALL OF THE CALVES (75) EXCEPT 15 HEFFERS WENT TO ZUMBROTA TO FIND THEIR NEXT HOME. ON MONDAY 4 COWS WENT TO EQUITY TO FIND A NEW HOME. AT LEAST TWO MORE SHOULD HAVE GONE, BUT THEY HAD AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM. THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!
BOOTS SAYS ITS EMBARRASSING AND DIFFICULT TO EAT WEARING THIS LAMP SHADE. BUT HE'S BARKING AND STRETCHING AND GROANING AND GETTING MORE LIKE HIS NORMAL GOOFY SELF.

WORKED ON THE NORTH HOUSE, PRETTY MUCH GOT THE FURNACE AND WIRING DONE, BURNED ON THE WOOD PILE, BROKE A HOSE ON THE LOADER, MADE BIG RUTS IN THE MUD, TRIMMED SOME BRANCHES ETC.

MOM AND POP DOWNEY WOODPECKERS.

GOT THE TURBO ON THE 1130 AND ITS HAULING THE MANURE SPREADER. AFTER IT BURNED THE OLD OIL FROM EVERYTHING, IT SEEMS TO HAVE NICE CLEAN EXHAUST. PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON IS NO MORE! NEED TO TAKE THE NEW TURBO FROM THE OLD 1105 AND PUT IT ON THE 1105 WITH THE CAB. THAT ONE IS SMOKING AND GETTING WORSE. PETE CLEANED THE FEED YARD AND PUT THE MANURE BY THE HAY SHED. IF IT WARMS UP THIS WEEK WE CAN GET IT SPREAD AND MAYBE GIVE THE 1130 A BATH WHEN WE CLEAN THE SPREADER. THEN WE CAN GET IT DRESSED AND READY FOR SUMMER.

THURSDAY WENT TO A GOOD MEETING ABOUT UTILIZING THE LOWER CHIPPEWA RIVER VALLEY WITHOUT DESTROYING IT. IT WAS AT THE UW EAU CLAIRE CAMPUS WITH FOLKS FROM THE UNIVERSITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, ROUND HILL, TROUT UNLIMITED, CHIPPEWA VALLEY VISITORS BUREAU, AND OTHERS. NICE PRODUCTIVE BRAIN STORM MEETING. SEE THE WALL MURAL OF THE LOWER CHIPPEWA RIVER AND LAKE PEPIN.

april 6, 2008

2008-04-05T21:09:00.007-05:00

ACTUALLY THIS IS SATURDAY, BUT I WON'T FINISH THIS TILL TOMORROW SO WE'LL CALL IT THE 6TH. DIDN'T GET FAR, THIS IS MONDAY MORNING. I GUESS I'M REALLY GETTING BAD. HARD TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST FEW DAYS. WE GOT JOHNNY ALL FIXED, EXCEPT THE ALTERNATOR DOESN'T CHARGE. IT WORKS, BUT DOESN'T CHARGE. PUT THE NEW TURBO ON THE 1130 MASSEY AND GOT IT RUNNING, IT NEEDS A GOOD BATH AND PUT ITS CLOTHES (SHEET METAL) ON. GOT STARTER AND MUFFLER ON THE SPARE LAWNMOWER (I HATE WORKING ON LAWN MOWERS). SATURDAY PETE AND KEN FOUND A YOUNG DEER THAT HAD BEEN HIT, BACK LEGS BROKE, CALLED THE SHERIFF TO SHOOT IT, (CITIZENS GO TO JAIL FOR SHOOTING WILDLIFE, PEOPLE ARE OK) AND GREG CAME OVER TO BUTCHER IT ON THE CHEVY TAILGATE. PETE TOOK THE QUARTERS, BACKSTRAPS AND TENDERLOINS. I GOT THE HEART, BOOTS GOT A BAG FULL OF MISC TRIMMINGS AND GREG TOOK THE INNARDS, CARCASS, HIDE, ETC HOME FOR HIS WILD BOAR HOGS. THAT TOOK AN HOUR OR SO, WE FED CALVES AND WENT TO THE NORTHERN WISCONSIN VACATION HOME AND STARTED THE WOOD PILE ON FIRE. CUT UP A LOT OF THE WHITE OAK TO GO IN PETE'S FURNACE, BUT SOME OF IT WAS TOO BIG FOR HIM. NEED TO BUILD THE WOOD SPLITTER.
SUNDAY I WENT TO MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN SHOPPING, IT WAS PRETTY CHEAP AND QUICK, BECAUSE PAT IS DOWN SOUTH. GOT A FEW PICTURES ON SUNDAY. WHO SAYS SQUIRRLS CAN'T FLY. THESE RED ONES CAN SURE JUMP WELL. THE WOOD-PECKER WAS POSING, BUT I WAS NEVER FAST ENOUGH TO GET PICTURES.

MONDAY, TODAY, WE SORTED HEIFFERS TO KEEP, COWS TO SHIP, AND TRY TO COUNT CALVES TO SHIP ON WED AM. THINGS WILL BE QUIETER ON THURSDAY.

APRIL 2, 2008

2008-04-02T04:37:00.007-05:00

MISSED A COUPLE OF DAYS. MONDAY IT SNOWED ALL DAY. WE ONLY THOUGHT THE PRETTY WHITE STUFF WAS OVER. IT BLIZZERED ALL DAY AND NIGHT TO ABOUT 4 OR 5 INCHES. NICE! ST.PAUL GOT ABOUT 12. MUST OF BEEN A MESS FOR THEM. THE GROUND WAS BEGINNING TO GET SO YOUR SHOE DIDN'T SINK IN, BUT WE'RE IN THE MUD SEASON AGAIN. FREEZES AT NIGHT THAWS DURING THE DAY. GREAT FOR GETTING THE SNOW INTO THE GROUND AS WATER, BUT EVERYONE GETS TO ENJOY THE MUD. SOME PLACES IT'S 10 TO 12 INCHES DEEP. GOOD NEWS IS THAT PETE CLEANED THE 6 TO 8 INCHES OF COW **** OUT OF THE FEED LOT AFTER IT THAWED OUT. YOU HATE IT WHEN IT COMES OVER THE TOP OF YOUR BOOTS. IT WASHES OUT BUT IS COLD AND WET UNTIL THEN.

MONDAY THIS POOR HOMELESS WOODPECKER HAD TO SLEEP UNDER THE BRIDGE ALL DAY. WE SHOULD BRING THIS DEPLORABLE SITUATION UP TO THE DEMOCRATS AND MAYBE THEY COULD PROPOSE SOME NEW PROGRAMS TO USE IN PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

SUNDAY THE SILO UNLOADER QUIT. CALVES HAD TO EAT HAY FOR TWO DAYS, POOR THINGS. WE HAD POWER TO THE MOTOR BUT NO NOISE SO TUESDAY PETE LET THE 5HP MOTOR (89 LBS) DOWN THE CHUTE (40 FEET) SO WE COULD CHANGE IT. SOMEHOW WE MUST ALWAYS WORK ON THE UNLOADER WHEN THE SILO IS FULL. PUT THE MOTOR IN THE SHOP, OPENED IT UP, DIDN'T STINK, THATS A GOOD SIGN, FOUND CORRODED CONNECTIONS. CHECKED PRICE OF NEW MOTOR FROM DISTRIBUTOR $485. GLAD TO HAVE FIXED THE OLD ONE. ONLY PROBLEM IS TO GET THE BEAST BACK TO THE TOP OF THE SILO. THAT IS A TWO PEOPLE JOB. WITH PETE IN THE TOP OF THE SILO, A ROPE ON THE MOTOR, AND ME UNDERNEATH IT, WE'LL PULL AND PUSH IT BACK UP THE CHUTE. A NASTY JOB. SOMEHOW WE ALWAYS HAVE TO DO IT WHEN THE SILO IS FULL!!

OUR RESIDENT RED SQUIRRL HAS ADOPTED THE FEEDER FOR HIS DINNER TABLE. PAT OPENS THE WINDOW, (2 FEET AWAY) DOESN'T BOTHER HIM AT ALL. HE JUST IGNORES HER. NEXT SHE GETS THE PELLET GUN AND WITH ACTIONS REMINISCENT OF JOHN WAYNE PROCEEDS TO BLAZE AWAY AT POOR RED. THIS ACTION SENDS POOR RED SCURRYING UP THE TREE.

PAT IS LEAVING ME THIS MORNING, HEADING SOUTH FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG. I WILL BE LOSING MY EDITOR, SO THE SPELLING MAY GET ATROCIOUS IN THE FUTURE. MAYBE I CAN SHOW HER HOW TO REMOTELY ACCESS THEM TO KEEP IT READABLE.

MARCH 30, 2008

2008-03-30T07:58:00.004-05:00

IT'S BEEN A FEW DAYS. NO TIME. THURSDAY WE PULLED THE LOGS UP THE HILL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE A YEAR AGO, AND RAN SILAGE, AND PAINTED PARTS, AND I FORGOT THE REST. THE LOG PILE OUTSIDE THE COMPUTER WINDOW HAS BECOME A WONDERLAND FOR OUR RESIDENT SQUIRRELS PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK, AND MAYBE OTHER THINGS.

FRIDAY WE FED EVERYONE AND WERE PAINTING PARTS WHEN PETE WENT TO LUNCH. HE CAME BACK AND SAID HE PUT SHEP IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE BOOTS HAD HIM PINNED DOWN BY THE NECK AT THE BACK DOOR. WENT TO CHECK IT OUT, LOT OF BLOOD ON BOTH DOGS. CHECKED SHEP (15 YEAR OLD BUDDY) FIRST, HAD A HARD TIME WASHING THE BLOOD FROM THE HAIR AROUND HIS NECK, BUT COULDN'T FIND ANY LEAKS. NEXT WE TOOK ON BOOTS. HE WAS THE BLOODIEST ONE. A BIG GASH UNDER HIS RIGHT EYE, ABOUT AN INCH LONG AND DEEP. APPARENTLY THE OLD GUY CAN HOLD HIS OWN IF HE NEEDS TO. IT WAS A DISPUTE OVER A CALF CARCASS THAT WAS ABORTED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. THE YARD IS ALWAYS DECORATED BY BOOTS WITH UNUSUAL ITEMS. WELL BOOTS GOT THE SHORT END OF THIS FRACUS, BUT HE REALLY NEEDED A COUPLE OF STITCHES TO PREVENT AN UGLY SCAR. CALLED THE VET, ALL THE DOCS WERE OUT, BUT THEY WOULD CALL WHEN BJ WOULD BE BACK. WE GOT TO THE CLINIC , BOOTS IS BLOODY BUT STILL ON HIGH ALERT, BJ GAVE HIM A SHOT TO SLOW HIM DOWN A BIT WHICH TOOK A WHILE TO WORK. IF WE SEDATED HIM WE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE HIM OVER NIGHT. BOOTS HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CAGE, I WORRIED ABOUT HIS REACTION WAKING UP IN ONE AND TRYING TO BE ON HIGH ALERT, WHICH IS HIS NORMAL MODE. SO WE DECIDED TO MUZZLE HIM AND USE A LOCAL PAIN KILLER. AS I HELD BOOTS, BJ STITCHED FIRST THE MUSCLE AND THEN THE SKIN. PUT THE HOUND BACK ON THE FLOOR AND HE WALKED LIKE A DRUNKEN SOLDIER. HE HEADED RIGHT FOR THE DOOR - HE WAS READY TO BE OUT OF THAT PLACE. AT THE VAN, HE SUCCESSFULLY NAVAGATED THE FRONT HALF THROUGH THE DOOR, BUT NEEDED A SLIGHT LIFT FOR THE REAR. TOOK HIM HOME, SETTLED THE TWO DOGS (NEITHER WAS VERY SPRY) AND WENT TO EAU CLARE SHOPPING. PICKED UP THE REBUILT TURBO FOR THE 1130 MASSEY, FOOD, SHELVING TO FURTHER ORGANIZE THE REAR UPSTAIRS ROOM, AND EXPANSION FOLDERS SO PAT CAN SORT MY DATA PILES AND RECLAIM THE TABLE. THIS IS A CONSTANT BATTLE THAT SHE SEEMS TO BE WINNING. HAD SUPPER (BROILED SEA SCALLOPS) , PUT BOOTS IN THE ENTRY WAY FOR THE NIGHT (HE NORMALLY STAYS OUT AND PROWLS ALL NIGHT) AND WENT TO BED.

SATURDAY MORNING BOOTERS COULD NOT STAND UP. WITH PAIN HE COULD SIT, HE TRIED TO GET UP, BUT IT WAS TOO PAINFUL. BACK TO THE VET FOR A PAIN PILL, QUARTERED IT, AND AFTER FOUR NICE CHUNKS OF HAM (HE COULD SWALLOW THOSE) WE HAD THE PILL ON THE INSIDE. LATER HE FINALLY STOOD UP AND WENT OUTSIDE. 18 HOURS OF LAYING DOWN, FIRST OBJECT HE FOUND, OH WHAT A RELIEF IT IS. HE STRUGGLED AROUND THE YARD A WHILE, LAID IN THE SUN A WHILE UNTIL I WENT TO COAX HIM UP. AS WE WERE GOING PAST THE FRONT OF PATS VAN, THERE WAS A BIRD IN THE WHEEL WELL SITTING ON THE TIRE. ZING, OFF HE WENT CHASING THE BIRD, WE MUST BE ON THE MEND.

PAT AND I TOOK A WALK TO THE MAIN POND IN THE AFTERNOON AND WATCHED THE DUCKS TAKE OFF AND LAND. THERE WERE ABOUT FIFTY OF THEM. UP THE VALLEY THERE WAS A SMALL HERD OF DEER GRAZING. COULDN'T GET A PICTURE.

WE FINISHED THE PARTS AND LEFT BOOTS OUT ALL NIGHT. HE'S BACK TO HIS NIGHT TIME PATROLS.

MARCH 26, 2008

2008-03-26T21:19:00.008-05:00

FROM HERE ON IN I, (PAT), WILL JOT DOWN MY THOUGHTS IN ITALICS.
WELL, IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL DAYS AGAIN THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO PUT ANYTHING INTO WORDS. THAT'S SAD! SO MUCH GOES ON UP HERE IN THE "NORTH WOODS" THAT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET EVERYTHING DONE IN EVERY DAY BEFORE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST GOING TO LITERALLY FALL ASLEEP AFTER SUPPER.

FINALLY WE ARE GETTING THE RAILROAD PARTS REWORKED AND WILL BE ABLE TO SHIP THEM OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK ON MONDAY. WHAT A RELIEF!! I AM SURE THIS WILL MAKE OUR CUSTOMER HAPPY, I KNOW IT SURE DOES ME. MAYBE I WILL BE ABLE TO GO HOME FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND ACCOMPLISH SOME THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE. I NEED TO GET MY ROSE ROOM TAKEN CARE OF (I SHOULD SAY, STRAIGHTENED UP) AND TALK TO MY PLANTS. I MISS THEM ALONG WITH MY HARLIE DOG WHICH IS STILL MISSING. I PROBABLY WILL NEVER SEE HER AGAIN.

ON MONDAY I LOOKED OUT THE LIVING ROOM WINDOW TOWARD THE DRIVEWAY AND LOW AND BEHOLD WHAT SHOULD APPEAR BEFORE MY EYES---NOT A MINIATURE SLEIGH---BUT 7 OR 8 LITTLE BLACK HEIFERS OUT TAKING A STROLL DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. I CALLED CARL AND TOLD HIM AND HE AND PETE CAME OUT OF THE WORKSHOP TO GET THEM IN. I HAD TO TAKE CARL DOWN BY THE SHOO-FLY HOUSE TO WALK BACK BEHIND THE CALVES SO THEY WOULD NOT GET INTO THE ROAD. HE HAD TO CLIMB A VERY STEEP HILL TO GET ON TOP OF THE BERM. IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW THOSE LITTLE BUGGERS GET OUT. GUESS WHAT, PETE LEFT THE GATE OPEN! MYSTERY SOLVED.

IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND WARM (40'S) TODAY. PETE AND I WERE DOING MISC.THINGS UNTIL IT WAS LATE ENOUGH FOR JEREMY TO GET HERE AND THE MACHINE SHOP TO GET THE UNPAINTED PARTS MACHINED. WE WERE FEEDING COWS (ABOUT 10 AM) WHEN JEREMY CALLED AND SAID HE WAS LATE BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN ROUNDING UP HIS TOOLS. HE WOULD BE HERE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES, ABOUT WHEN WE WOULD BE DONE RUNNING SILAGE. LATER I CALLED DURAND MACHINE TO CHECK ON THE PART PROGRESS. CALL HIT THE ANSWERING MACHINE. NEXT I CALLED PAT ON HIS CELL, AND A STRANGE WOMAN ANSWERED. THIS IS UNUSUAL! AFTER SOME DISCUSSION SHE IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS PAT'S WIFE. THEY WERE IN THE HOSPITAL IN EAU CLAIRE. PAT HAD A HEART ATTACK LAST NIGHT. WOW, JUST WHAT I NEED, PARTS ARE SCREWED UP (MACHINE SHOP ERROR) ALREADY 2 WEEKS LATE, AND THE MACHINIST HAS A HEART ATTACK. HOW MUCH LUCK CAN YOU HAVE AT ONE TIME? THANK YOU LORD! COULDN'T GET A HOLD OF THE GUY THAT OWNS THE SHOP. HAVEN'T SEEN THE CARPENTER GUY.
AS THE DAY WORE ON, THERE WAS SOMEONE AT THE SHOP TO FINISH MACHINING THE PARTS, WE PICKED UP THE UNPAINTED PARTS AND STARTED PACKAGING THEM. NEVER DID SEE THE CARPENTER GUY!!

BOOTS WITH HIS FAVORITE TOY. HE'S BEEN SHAKING THIS COON FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS. COONS DON'T EVER SEEM TO ROT.

march 25, 2008

2008-03-26T05:21:00.003-05:00

THIS MORNING AFTER FEEDING EVERYONE PETE AND I RAN A BUNK OF SILAGE, CAME DOWN TO THE MACHINE SHED, AND NOTICED THE GATE TO THE CALF PASTURE WAS LEFT OPEN. WE CLOSED IT AND GOT BUSY IN THE SHED. A BIT LATER PAT CALLED ON THE CELL TO TELL US WE HAD A PROBLEM. WELL WHATS NEW WE'VE GOT LOTS OF PROBLEMS. WELL SHE EXPLAINED THE PICTURE, AND WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ABOUT A MILE WALK THIS MORNING. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WARM DAY FOR FOR A WALK, AND THE SNOW WAS A LITTLE SLIPPERY ON THE HILLSIDES. THE LITTLE DEVILS KNEW THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE EXPLORING, BUT IT WAS GREAT FUN.

FINALLY GOT THE OK TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE RAILROAD BRACKETS SO THEY ARE BACK TO THE MACHINE HOUSE FOR MODIFICATION. MAYBE WE CAN SHIP BY FRIDAY OR MONDAY.

FINALLY GOT TOGETHER WITH JEREMY AND LOOKED AT WHAT TO DO TO FINISH THE NORTH VACATION HOME (NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN VACATION HOME) AS THE SEARCH ENGINES MIGHT LOOK FOR. HE WILL BE DOWN TOMORROW TO START HELPING ON FINISHING IT. NEED TO GET THE WEB PAGE FINISHED! I NEVER KNOW WHAT CONTENT TO PUT INTO IT. MAYBE BY THE TIME IT'S TOO LATE I WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

MARCH 23 2008

2008-03-23T08:10:00.004-05:00

HAPPY EASTER:
PAT IS BUSY PREPARING "A FEAST FOR THE KING" IS PROBABLY THE WAY SHE WOULD SAY IT. IT WILL BE GOOD. SHE MADE A SPECIAL TRIP YESTERDAY TO GET SWEET POTATOES, GUESS WHY, AND GOT A HAM OUT OF THE FREEZER, AND PROBABLY OTHER THINGS I DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT. GOOD BYE DIET FOR TODAY. WELL MAYBE FOR A WHILE....AM GAINING SLOWLY. NOT GOOD.

GOT A CALL YESTERDAY ABOUT RENTING THE MORSBACH FARMS SOUTH GUEST HOME. IT WAS A NICE LADY FROM KANSAS WHO GREW UP IN ARKANSAW BUT THE KIDS HAD MOSTLY MIGRATED FROM HOME. THEIR MOM LIVES IN PLUM CITY BUT DOESN'T HAVE ROOM FOR 12 EXTRA PEOPLE TO STAY A WEEK. SO SHE IS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE. MAYBE HAVING VACATION RENTAL HOMES IN WESTERN WISCONSIN WILL WORK. HOPE SO.

IT'S ANOTHER GREY OLD DAY WITH REAL FINE SNOW FLAKES FALLING. THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN DYING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HAVE BEEN ADDING DIFFERENT ANTI-VIRUS AND FIREWALL PRODUCTS. THE WORST PART IS MY USB PORT WON'T READ MY COMPACT FLASH CARD SO I CANT GET NEW PICTURES INTO ANYTHING. JUST GOT THROWN OUT OF THE KITCHEN. WAS TOLD IT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS HOW SHE WAS MAKING THINGS, SHE'S WINGING IT. ANYWAY EVERY TIME I ADD ANOTHER PROGRAM SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS. YESTERDAY I ADDED NORTON 360, AND IT BLOCKED MY E MAIL. AFTER AN HOUR OR SO YOU FIND OUT HOW TO TURN THE EMAIL SCAN OFF AND E EMAIL WORKS. GOLLY, JUST LIKE I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO!!! (ACTUALLY I THINK HIS REAR HAS BEEN GLUED TO THE COMPUTER CHAIR FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS.)

PAT AND I TOOK A WALK OUT TO THE MAIN POND THIS MORNING TO SEE THE DUCKS. TOOK THE CAMERA BUT THE NEW BATTERIES FOR THE CAMERA DIED. EVERYONE TELLS ME TO GET RID OF MY OLD STUFF THAT SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, AND GET NEW STUFF. NEW STUFF DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK EITHER. I CAN ATTEST TO THAT!

MARCH 22, 2008

2008-03-19T10:55:00.005-05:00

GUESS WHAT!! IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, OR I SHOULD SAY ABOUT 10 DAYS SINCE I LAST WROTE ANYTHING DOWN. IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER. THINGS HAVE STILL BEEN GOING ON; STILL DO NOT HAVE RAILROAD PARTS ISSUE SOLVED YET. HOPEFULLY SOON.

YESTERDAY WE HAD A SNOWSTORM THAT STARTED ABOUT 4:30 IN THE MORNING AND LASTED ALL DAY. WE ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 7-9 INCHES. THAT'S A BUNCH WHEN YOU THINK THAT THE GROUND WAS ALMOST BARE. PROBABLY THE LAST TIME THIS SPRING THE TREES WILL BE DECORATED IN WHITE AND EVERYTHING ELSE DECKED OUT WITH A WHITE CARPET. IT'S A WET SLIPPERY SNOW THAT MAKES YOU PLAY "SIT DOWN" (NOT SNOW ANGELS) WHENEVER YOU DON'T PLANT YOU FEET AT AN ANGLE WHEN CLIMBING A HILL. THE SQUIRRELS AND RABBITS HAVE TO HOP UP TO GET ANY PROGRESS ON THEIR JOURNEYS. AS THE WIND OCCASIONALLY MOVES THE TREE BRANCHES, THERE ARE NEW SNOW FALLS. IT WILL BE SAD TO SEE THE WINTER WONDERLAND GO, BUT THE GROUND UNDER THAT COVER IS ALREADY THAWED.

AS OF A WEEK AGO WE WERE IN THE MUD SEASON. YOU WALK IN THE MUD, DRIVE IN THE MUD, THE COWS WALK IN THE MUD, BOOTS RUNS IN THE MUD. IT'S THE DAY AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING. MAYBE WARMER WEATHER IS COMING SOON. HOPEFULLY NOT REAL WARM. WE NEED A NICE SLOW WARM UP OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS SO WE DON'T GET TORRENTS OF WATER MOVING THE SOILS DOWN THE HILLSIDES.

MARCH 12 2008

2008-03-12T10:05:00.004-05:00

MISSED A DAY. BUILDING LIKE CRAZY, BUT FOUND A MISTAKE ON THE PARTS. THAT PUTS EVERYTHING ON HOLD. NEED TO GET A DEVIATION. NOT GOOD.

YESTERDAY STARTED MUD SEASON. WE ARE ALL WALKING IN SLUSH AND WATER. RUNNING WATER. NO MUD YET, THE GROUND IS STILL FROZEN. IN THE MORNING THE WATER IS FROZEN AND WE ALL SKATE ON THE ICE. BY AFTERNOON WE'RE BACK TO THE SLUSH. IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE SHOULD GET INTO THE DEEP MUD DAYS.

WENT TO A TOWNSHIP MEETING LAST NIGHT AND WHEN I GOT HOME BOOTS WAS DOWN BY THE GULLY DOING A CONSTANT BARAGE OF BARKING. A DEER WOULD HAVE LEFT, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VARMINT, OR POSSIBLY A BEAR. WITH THE SNOW MELTING, ALL THOSE COZY LITTLE RODENT DENS BEGIN TO FILL WITH COLD WATER. PRETTY SOON THEY HAVE TO WAKE UP AND FIND A NEW HOME.

MARCH 10 2008

2008-03-10T06:57:00.002-05:00

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME?? ITS 6:30 AND STILL DARK. WHAT DID I SAVE?? I FEAR THE POLITICIANS ARE SELLING ME SOMETHING; MUST BE FOR MY OWN GOOD! HAVE TO BURN THE PHONE LINE THIS MORNING, THE AGE OF VOICE MAIL (COMMUNICATION). SUPPOSEDLY THEY'LL CALL BACK, BUT I'LL EITHER BE ON THE NEXT VOICE MAIL OR HAVE GONE OUT TO WORK. HAVE TO PANIC ON RR PARTS TODAY AND TOMORROW. FINISH EARLY. THE MUD IS COMING. BUT, WE HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE MUD SEASON TO GET TO THE GREEN SEASON.

MARCH 9 2008

2008-03-10T06:22:00.004-05:00

A LITTLE LESS THAN ZERO THIS MORNING. DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MUD TODAY. SUNDAY. A DAY OF REST AND DOMESTICS. PROBABLY SHOULD START GOING TO CHURCH AGAIN SOME DAY. THE LORD AND I HAVE DISCUSSIONS CONSTANTLY, SO I DON'T THINK HE MISSES ME TOO BADLY ON SUNDAY. A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. BOOTS HAS PARKED THE COON OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN WINDOW, PROBABLY JUST DROPPED IT THERE AND WENT OFF TO CHASE SOMETHING ELSE. IT DID HAVE A LIGHT COVERING OF SNOW SO IT MUST HAVE SNOWED LAST NIGHT.

LATER IN THE MORNING I LOOKED OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW AND THERE WERE TWO CARCASES LYING IN THE SNOW. BOOTS WAS FLAT OUT ON HIS SIDE, SOUND ASLEEP.

WE DID ACCOUNTING UNTIL WE WERE AT AN IMPASSE. NEED TO CALL CHECKMAGIC, (PRINTS ALL OUR ACCOUNTS ON BLANK CHECK PAPER) TO GET MORE MAGIC , AND INTUIT TO FIGURE HOW TO PUT SOME OF THE MORE COMPLEX STATEMENTS IN.

DELETED THE ELLAWISC.COM WEBSITE, NEED TO DEVELOP THE NEW ONE. WILL HAVE TO INCORPORATE THE NEW LOGO TOM SENT. WILL HAVE TO FIGURE WHAT TO SAY. WHEN YOU CLICK ONTO THE WEBSITE, WHAT DO I WANT TO STICK INTO YOUR FACE. I NEED TO GRAB YOUR ATTENTION AND STIMULATE YOUR CURIOSITY. I NEED TO HAVE YOU RECOGNIZE 4 OR 5 LINKS AND HAVE THEM PRESENTED WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE IT A DIFFICULT DECISION AS TO WHICH LINK TO GO TO FIRST.

WOW!! SPENT THE WHOLE DAY INSIDE.

MARCH 8 2008

2008-03-08T22:16:00.004-06:00

ELEVEN BELOW THIS MORNING... THE SNOW IS CRUNCHING WHEN YOU WALK. HAD TO LEAVE BY 7 AM TO GET TO A CONFERENCE AT UW RIVER FALLS. ONE OF THE BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS HAS A TITLE STONE "STATE NORMAL SCHOOL" IN THE 1890'S. DAD AND HIS SIBLINGS WENT TO A NORMAL SCHOOL IN NORTH DAKOTA I BELIEVE. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT A NORMAL SCHOOL WAS. DID THEY HAVE ABNORMAL SCHOOLS?? MOTHER WAS IN A SKILLED CARE FACILITY FOR A WHILE. DOES THAT MEAN THAT THERE ARE UNSKILLED CARE FACILITIES?? OR ARE THEY JUST BRAGGING?

THE CONFERENCE WENT VERY WELL. CHRIS, OUR OLD FORESTER, WAS THERE TO GIVE A TALK. SAW PEOPLE I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT. ONE SUCH GENTLEMAN, JIM, GAVE A PRESENTATION ON WETLANDS. AFTER THE CONFERENCE I STOPPED TO TALK TO HIM, ASKED IF HE WORKED IN PEPIN COUNTY, HE SAID YES. WE TALKED A SHORT WHILE, AND EXCHANGED CARDS. HE STUDIED MY CARD FOR A MINUTE AND SAID I KNOW THAT NAME. OH OH! HE SAID I HAVE A THICK FILE ON YOU. HOLY COW WHAT COULD THIS BE? HE SAID YOU HAD A GET TOGETHER ON YOUR FARM LAST YEAR THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF, AND I COULDN'T MAKE IT. DAN HAD SENT ME ALL KINDS OF DATA AND INFORMATION WHICH I STILL HAVE ON FILE. LORD WHAT A SMALL WORLD. HE'LL BE OUT LATER THIS SPRING.

WENT SHOPPING AND CAME HOME

MARCH 7 2008

2008-03-07T21:24:00.005-06:00

DIDN'T WARM UP MUCH LATELY, IT WAS JUST BELOW ZERO THIS MORNING. SNOW STILL SQUEAKS WHEN YOU WALK. THOSE POOR PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I SAID. THEIR LOSS! IT'S SUNNY AND CRISP. A GOOD DAY TO WORK ON THE ACCOUNTING. THIS MORNING WE GOT THE SOFTWARE WORKING TO PRINT CHECKS FROM MULTIPLE COMPANIES ON BLANK CHECK PAPER. PRETTY NEAT! PRINT THE CHECKS FOR EACH COMPANY TO FILE, THEN PRINT THE FILE. PRINT THE CO NAME, THE BANK NAME. BANK ROUTING, CHECK NO'S ETC. NO PREPRINTED CHECKS!!! WONDERFUL.

PAT CALLED ME IN TO SEE AN EAGLE IN THE CALF PASTURE, EATING SOMETHING, (THERE'S A DEAD CALF OUT FURTHER) AND A VULTURE (HAS A RED HEAD) SWOOPING DOWN EVERY NOW AND THEN AT THE EAGLE. BY THE TIME I GOT IN, THE VULTURE WAS GONE. BOOTS WAS BUSY TOSSING HIS RACCOON IN THE AIR TO PLAY CATCH.
I TRIED TO GET A PICTURE, BUT AS SOON AS I SQUEAKED THE DOOR HE WAS GONE LIKE A SHOT OUT PAST THE GARAGE AND UP IN FRONT OF THE MACHINE SHED. HE 'S ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPRESS ME.

I WATCHED THE EAGLE FOR A WHILE, THERE HAD TO BE 30 OR MORE TURKEYS GLEANING THE CORN FROM THE CALF POOP ALL OVER THE FIELD. THE CALVES , TURKEYS, EAGLES, DOG ETC ALL SEEM TO GET ALONG TOGETHER. THAT IS UNTIL BOOTS REMEMBERS IT'S REALLY FUN TO CHASE ANYTHING THAT MOVES. THE RACE IS ON!

TOM SENT SOME REALLY NICE SHOO-FLY LOGOS TO BEGIN TO TIE THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES TOGETHER. I NEED TO GET HELP TO FINISH THE NORTH HOME (HURLBERT HOUSE). NEED TO PLAN SOME HIKING TRAILS, NEED TO RESTORE THE MAIN POND, TRENCH IN WATERERS, FROST SEED THE PASTURES, STRAIGHTEN AND REPAIR THE FENCES WHEN THE FROST GOES OUT. OH WELL, ALWAYS THINGS TO DO. IN A FEW WEEKS WE NEED TO SELL CALVES.

I MET WITH DAN, SOME UW EAU CLAIRE TEACHERS AND SOME DIRECTORS OF ROUND HILL A WEEK OR SO AGO. TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN. ANYHOW, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING AT UWEC ON APRIL 10 WITH MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THE LOWER CHIPPEWA RIVER FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY WITHOUT DESTROYING IT. IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT ENJOYABLE. NEED TO FIND SOME MORE INTERESTED LAND OWNERS (ADDITIONAL).

MARCH 6 2008

2008-03-06T17:53:00.003-06:00

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE WARM TODAY, MAYBE ALMOST 30. IT'S PAT'S DAY TO GO SHOPPING. I HAVE TO STAY HOME AND PAINT PARTS FOR OUR RAIL ROAD PARTS ORDER. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEM DONE BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. MUST SHIP BY FRIDAY.

PRETTY SOON IT WILL BE MUD SEASON. THAT'S A MESS. BUT AFTER THE SNOW MELT AND THE SPRING RAINS AND FEEDING COWS IN ANKLE DEEP MUD (THERE ANKLE ABOUT A FOOT) SPRING WILL BE HERE. THEN SHORTLY WE'LL HEAR THE CHIRPING OF THE YOUNG. BIRDS ARE A PAIN, BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BUILDING NESTS WHERE THEY DON'T BELONG (SEE PICTURE). BUT USUALLY WE CAN PUT UP WITH THEM, WORK AROUND THEM, CLEAN UP AFTER THEM, AND GENERALLY ENJOY THE GIFT OF NEW LIFE THE LORD PROVIDES US. AND AT NO COST.

THE DAYS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING LONGER, AND THE NIGHTS SHORTER, BUT THE SNOW STILL SQUEAKS WHEN YOU WALK. I STILL SEEM TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND FIND ANOTHER MIRACULOUS DAY TO ENJOY. ISN'T LIFE GREAT!!

march 5 2008

2008-03-06T07:14:00.006-06:00

IT'S SNOWING!!! BEAUTIFUL DAY THE LORD MAKES FANTASTIC THINGS HAPPEN. PETE AND I FED COWS & CALVES. HAD TO CUT PLASTIC AND PULL IT BACK ON THE SILAGE BAG. SNOWED LIGHTLY ALL DAY, PARTS BAGS ARRIVED, PAT ADJUSTED HER BACK ON THE DRIVEWAY (NOT RECOMMENDED) DIDN'T EVEN MAKE A SNOW ANGEL WHILE SHE WAS DOWN. PACKAGED THE DUAL SENSOR BRACKETS

PICTURE OF THE DRIVE IN THE WINTER TIME.

MARCH 4, 2008

2008-03-04T06:38:00.001-06:00

THIS IS THE DAY TO TAKE BOOTS TO THE VETS. HE HAS SCRATCHED THE BACK OF HIS FRONT LEGS TILL IT BLEEDS, SO TIME TO CURE IT. I WENT OUT SIDE AND STARTED THE VAN, TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER, OPENED THE SIDE DOOR AND THERE WAS BOOTS EYING THE OPPORTUNITY. HE WAS WOUND UP LIKE A SPRING TOY WAITING TO BE TRIGGERED. HE KNOWS NOT TO GET IN A VEHICLE UNTIL I TELL HIM TO (TRIGGER). PAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE AS I HEADED AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SHE BROUGHT OUT SHEP, WHO HEADED TO THE VAN (TRIGGER). ALL DOGS MADE A FULL SPEED ENTRY INTO VAN. I CLOSED THE SIDE DOOR AND GOT INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS PAT NORMALLY TAKES HER SHADOW (SHEP) WHENEVER SHE GOES ANYWHERE, AND HAS A STOOL FOR HIM IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT, HE BELIEVES THAT IS HIS PLACE IN THE VAN. THE STOOL WASN'T THERE, BUT SHEP WAS CURLED UP IN THE SEAT.

PAT OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR TO GET IN, NUDGES SHEP TO GET OUT OR HER SEAT, (NO REACTION) NUDGES HIM AGAIN, LOUDLY TELLS HIM TO MOVE (HE CAN'T HEAR), SHAKES HIM-- ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE. AFTER TRYING SOME MORE SHE FINALLY RESIGNS TO OPENING THE SIDE DOOR AND RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. THAT'S THE WAY PECKING ORDER GOES.

VETS DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER (PEOPLE CAN ONLY TELL YOU WHAT THEY KNOW). GUESS I'M AS SMART AS THEY ARE. THEY CAN PRESCRIBE PILLS, SO WE HAVE ANTIBIOTICS AND ORAL MEDICATION. THE IDEA IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT TRY THIS MEDICATION (HOPEFULLY IT WON'T KILL HIM) AND SEE IF THINGS IMPROVE (MAYBE HELL CURE HIMSELF). SOUNDS LIKE THE CLINIC DR'S. GOOD LUCK.

PAT PACKAGED SOME HARDWARE I PAINTED PARTS, PETE WELDED PARTS. EVERY ONE BUSY, BUT NO PROGRESS ON THE NORTH HOUSE (HURLBERT).

MARCH 3 2008

2008-03-03T06:36:00.000-06:00

THE STARS WERE OUT THIS MORNING. THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM THE SKY JUST TWINKLES. THAT WAS AT 4 AM WHEN I LET BOOTS OUT. LATER HE WAS BARKING LIKE CRAZY, I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT. WHEN IT GOT LIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE, HE'S LAYING IN THE SNOW BESIDE ANOTHER CARCASS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE COON HE KILLED LAST WEEK OR A NEW ONE. IF YOU HAVE 4 LEGS BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE IT'S HIS YARD. PAT SAYS HE BARKS SO MUCH HE SCARES THEM TO DEATH. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS!!

THE SUNS UP. LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY. ALL THE GOOD RAIN AND SNOW WENT EAST OF US. PAT AND HER SHADOW, SHEP, JUST CAME IN. RESIDENT RED WAS HEARD THIS MORNING AND CAME DOWN THE BIRD FEEDING TREE. WILD LIFE IS QUIET THIS MORNING.

TALKED TO DAN ABOUT USING SOME OF THE TIFFANY TRAILS FOR CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AND SNOW SHOEING. THEY WOULD NEED TO BE GROOMED. I SHOULD CHECK ON MOWING THEM IN THE SUMMER. TALKED WITH KRIS FROM DNR WHO SAID NO PROBLEM. PERHAPS A FRIEND OF THE TIFFANY WOULD BE IN ORDER. I COULD MOW THEM IN THE SUMMER TIME, AND BEING THAT THEY ARE MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, COULD SEND MY RENTERS ALL SUMMER LONG.

IT WAS WARM TODAY, NOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE SNOW, BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE ICE ON ALL THE PACKED SNOW. CAN'T HARDLY CLIMB THE HILL TO THE SHED WITHOUT FALLING DOWN.

WE TUMBLED AND PAINTED SMALL PARTS TODAY. 900 + . THE WATER TO THE SHED FROZE EARLIER IN THE YEAR, SO HAD TO WASH PARTS AND TUMBLING STONES IN THE BATHTUB. WHAT A PAIN. NOW I HAVE TO WASH THE TUB. ALL IN ALL, A WONDERFUL DAY.

PAT MADE COD SAUTEED IN BUTTER SPICE SAUCE WITH EGG PLANT FRIED IN BUTTER. JUST LIKE EATING IN A FINE RESTAURANT, WITHOUT THE WAIT.

MARCH 2 2008

2008-03-02T21:29:00.000-06:00

A BEAUTIFUL MORNING. THE SUN IS COMING OVER THE HORIZON WITH A PINK HORIZONTAL LINE OF CLOUDS WAS JUST CHEERFUL. DAYS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING LONGER. I SEE A BIG PLUMP GRAY SQUIRREL ON THE BIRD FEEDER THIS MORNING. THAT'S DIFFERENT. A SHORT TIME LATER, MY RESIDENT RED SQUIRREL COMES OUT AND RUNS THAT GRAY SQUIRREL OUT OF THE TREE AND ACROSS THE YARD. THOSE LITTLE REDS (2/3 THE SIZE) ARE NASTY.

LATER IN THE MORNING I FOUND 3 GRAYS UNDER THE BIRD FEEDERS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. THEN THERE ARE 4 GRAYS. THEY FEED AND RUN BACK AND FOURTH ON THE CREST OF THE HILL TO THE LARGE PINE TREE ON THE SOUTH SIDE. IT IS SPRING TIME, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THESE ARE ALL HOMOSEXUAL EITHER. THIS IS GOOD, BECAUSE THERE IS PLENTY OF HABITAT FOR MORE GRAYS. THEY LIVE IN THE TREES.

LATE MORNING WENT TO EAU CLAIRE SHOPPING. ALWAYS FOR SOME REASON IT'S EXPENSIVE. NEEDED PAINT FOR RR PARTS, A THREADED LOAD BINDER TO HOLD THE LARGE DOUBLE OAK TREE TRUNKS TOGETHER AT THE SOUTH HOUSE, FURNACE PARTS FOR THE NORTH HOUSE AND PAT WANTED TO CHECK ON A SLEEP NUMBER BED. WOW!!

MARCH 1 2008

2008-03-02T05:54:00.001-06:00

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY. SUN'S UP AND THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER. THE BLUE JAYS AND CARDINALS ARE WORKING THE BIRD FEEDER IN THE TREE OUTSIDE THE COMPUTER ROOM WINDOW PRETTY HARD. THIS MORNING OUR RESIDENT RED SQUIRREL WAS IN THE FEEDER. FIRST TIME HE (OR SHE, HARD FOR ME TO TELL) HAS BEEN ACTUALLY IN THE FEEDER. USUALLY HE RUNS DOWN THE TREE TO THE FEEDER GRABS A SEED, RUNS BACK 2 FEET UP THE TREE TO A SMALL BRANCH, SITS UP PRETTY, HOLDS THE SEED IN HIS HANDS AND CHEWS IT UP.

THE BIRD FEEDER IS A BLOCK (2X4X6) OF DIFFERENT BIRD SEEDS ALL GLUED (?) TOGETHER. FOR $4, THEY LAST FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND HAVE LOTS OF ATTRACTION FOR CARDINALS, BLUE JAYS, RED BELLIED WOODPECKERS, DOWNY WOODPECKERS, NUT HATCHES AND BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEES. ALL THE OTHER LITTLE BIRDS SEEM TO LEAVE IT ALONE.

MY RESIDENT HOUSE SQUIRREL, ACTUALLY THERE ARE TWO, (I'M HOPING THEY'RE HOMOSEXUAL) ATE A FEW SEEDS LIKE HE NORMALLY DOES AND THEN DECIDED IT WAS SAFE TO CRAWL INTO THE FEEDER, SIT ON THE BLOCK AND HAVE BREAKFAST. I RAPPED ON THE WINDOW, BUT HE'S GOTTEN SO USED TO BEING LOOKED AT, HE JUST LOOKS BACK. I OPENED THE WINDOW AND HE SCATTERED. LATER HE'S BACK IN THE FEEDER. I OPEN THE WINDOW AND HE'S GONE. THIS WORKED A FEW TIMES.
NOW I CAN OPEN THE WINDOW, HANG OUT THE WINDOW, HOLLER, WAVE MY ARM, POINT MY FINGER AND HE CALMLY KEEPS EATING AND WATCHES ME. HE PROBABLY THINKS I'VE BECOME SENILE. NOW WHAT TO DO!

PETE FED THE COWS AND CALVES, WE TUMBLED SHIMS AND PAINTED THEM AND PAT PUT 4 IN ZIP LOCK BAGS. WE DID JUST UNDER 300 PIECES. PAT SAID SHE SAW
2 EAGLES OVER THE CALF PASTURE THIS AFTERNOON.