growing up

the fox and the fall

Yes, the marauder in question is a red fox. I got a call from my neighbor Katie, telling me our neighbor Ed witnessed a fox carrying a duck in its jaws and running down the hill and over the creek. This happened around dawn. As I write you, the chicken coop is latched and locked and I am glad to report no other animals were lost today. I now know what to look for, and hopefully I can stop this fox in its tracks or do something to better fence and pen my birds. I am already taking the dogs out at night to relieve themselves at the poultry house—hoping the scent of wolves will make the red one turn tail. I do what I can.

On a lighter note: The garden is thriving. What a glorious sight! Corn is shooting up towards my waist. The pumpkins vines are thick and dark. Squashes are starting to rise and peas snap into my mouth like sugar water candies. Tonight I dine on a dinner of skillet-steamed broccoli over an egg and couscous stir fry. Homesteaders work like dogs but eat like kings.

And I was able to share some of the bounty this weekend too. Before I drove south to Pennsylvania I loaded the car with my contributions to the family feasting. I brought a giant bag of vegetables and a dozen farm eggs. I baked all weekend. I made pizza and apple pies and a fine quiche with a buttery crust. It's a good feeling, taking care of people's hunger. Giving them something to eat and enjoy you are directly responsible for. I know that's an old song. It doesn't mean it's not true.

This morning when I woke up there was a slight chill in the air. Just enough to cause me to see my breath at 5:30 AM. I watched it rise up into the oaks and watched it come out of the honking geese's bills like smoke. With the solstice behind us each day gets just a little colder, a little shorter... Soon it will be October again and I will be so very happy. A season comes to replace another. My breath is always baited for the falls.

P.S. My camera is fixed. More new photos soon.

back from vacation

Just in from a three-day vacation in Pennsylvania with the dogs. I was visiting my folks, and away from the farm since Friday morning. Thanks to the help of my amazing neighbors I was able to leave knowing the animals would be taken care of in my absence. It takes a village. It really does.

I had a wonderful time in Palmerton, but when I returned to Cold Antler I discovered my duck and another rooster (Sussex, my favorite, pictured above) had been swiped by the predator. This has me rather concerned since the animal taking my flock seems to come while I'm at work (not in the dead of the night). I am researching my options, but does anyone have any advice for a free-range flock? Is there something I can buy and spray, like a deterrent?

I've never had this sort of problem with birds before. Certainly not in broad daylight. And while I have no qualms shooting a fox or fisher if I catch one around the place—catching such an animal seems nearly impossible since it's happening while I'm earning my paycheck...

some things i learned so far...

A 40% chance of rain means there's a 100% chance you're still watering the garden.

No day is too hot for a cold creek, iced lemonade, and a westinghouse fan by an open window. (And I lived in Tennessee)

Hoeing never gets easer.
But your body gets harder.

Better to try and fail then not try at all.
I'll take heartbreak over apathy any day.
Heartbrake means you tried.

On winter mornings, a freshly laid egg makes a perfect hand warmer in your pockets.

Pancakes from scratch, fresh egg omelets, and homemade bread are unbeatable. But some days you just want diet coke and fruitloops, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Gardening: worth it.

Old stuff is better.

Some second-cut hay looks good enough to eat.

Patches make favorite jeans last forever. Do not be afraid to sew.

Chickens: worth it.

You haven't met winter till you met Sandpoint, Idaho.

Now, share some of your own.

broken camera and one man down

I came home from work to the sounds of thunder. Not too far south of the farm the sky was lighting up. I had to move fast if I wanted all the animals taken care of and stay dry in the process. I did my best and was able to feed, water, collect eggs, move out to pasture and stake out my kingdom of the animals. When the night's chores were done I chose to meet the rain on the porch with my guitar. I sat there strumming my Sunburst Epiphone AJ (an affordable knock off of my dream guitar: the lovely Gibson J-45) and sang. I had a rough day at work, and singing in the rain did just the trick. If I was playing a J-45 I'd still play to the storm. Just louder. She'll deserve louder.

I do not baby my instruments. They're draft animals too.

I also broke my camera. New photos are on hiatus till I get another Kodak.

Sad news: Lost a few birds, including the original CAF-VT rooster, Rufus Wainwright. (That's him on the YouTube video graphic on the right hand side of this blog.) No trace of him, just feathers in the yard. I don't know if it's a hawk, yote, fox or dog that took the ol' boy...but he will be missed. He did a good job taking care of the ladies before the young guns took over from last springs (supposedly all-pullet) chick order. I also lost a few hens from the pick-up last Friday. A little bit of entropy as all this rain takes over. You'll have this.