Sunday, August 26, 2018

National Puppy Day

It's National Dog day and what better way to celebrate than with the new puppy. 

Could be competition for Connor one of these days...

In the meantime, little Ian is all he can from Uncle Connor. 

Including how to cool off in puddles...

..and ride in the truck.

He hasn't quite got the hang of swimming yet though....

...even if he does occasionally resemble a frog. 

Sticks though...

he's got that all figured out.

Along with the look that gets him just about anything he wants.

Happy Dog Day (which is every day around here).

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Hired Help

Elva's new helper arrived at the farm this week....

He is already zoned in on Elva like a laser beam

He goes on hikes with the rest of the pack....

Helps build fence...

Has learned not to chase chickens...

He has conquered stairs and already climbs on the couch.

He has met the sheep and cows...

And that was all on his first day. 

Welcome to the farm little Ian, we're all glad to have you.  Your new mom wanted LOTS of pictures so here they are








Wednesday, August 15, 2018

TIMBER!!!!

I accidently gave the donkeys access to what was a nice Ash tree....

It did not take them long to make sure that it would not remain standing for long.  Ben especially loves Ash trees. 

They may look sweet and innocent to us, but if you happen to be a tree, this is your worst nightmare....

They even dig out all the roots.

Seeing as the poor tree was well and truly doomed, I decided to get out my new favorite tool - the battery powered chainsaw.....

The first time I heard about battery powered chainsaws a few years ago, I just shook my head in disgust.  But, lithium batteries have come a long way in the past ten years and the thing works great.  It is lightweight, super easy to use and has way more power than I would have thought possible. 

I am no expert at felling trees since I would much rather hug them, but Ash trees are in serious danger from the Emerald Ash Borer and leaving damaged Ash trees standing is an open invitation to invasion.  Most loggers are rushing around trying to cut down all the healthy Ash trees so they can get whatever money they can out of them before the dreaded Ash Borer gets here.  That is a mindset that makes me crazy.  In every population there will be individuals that are resistant to any plague and it is these individuals that will rebuild the population and come back stronger than before.  However, killing them all off before they even have a chance to resist the plague is a great way to ensure extinction. 

Anyway.......I didn't want to leave this damaged tree and I really wanted it to fall in the pasture instead of over the stone wall.  Of course, this was the opposite way that gravity wanted it to fall so I had to get a bit creative to convince it to go where I wanted it.  I cut through the tree until I started to feel scared that it would fall on top of me and then I got the Handy Man and a long rope to help...

I may not know much about the finer points of tree felling, but I do have a pretty good grasp of the effects of gravity and what might happen if I was standing underneath a tree when gravity got the better of it.  A long rope and the ATV helped me overcome that little bit of physics and put the tree down where I wanted it - all with me at a nice safe distance.

The little herd tree killers were ecstatic....

After 24 hours they had it cleaned up enough for me to cut the trunk into firewood.

Within 3 days, they had stripped it bare.  By the time I get around to picking up whatever is left, there will only be a few bare branches.  Around here the Ash Borers have suspiciously long ears.