MARCH 8 2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.