joesmithreally

Spoiled Chickens

Every morning, the chickens gather expectantly behind their door, clucking and warbling, and, if it hasn’t snowed, come streaming out as soon as I open it and gather around me in expectation of a treat. Some of them go straight to the flat bowls of warm water, others will begin pecking and eating from theContinue reading “Spoiled Chickens”

Winter Beauty

We had rather thick, early morning fog for a few consecutive days earlier this week. Since it was below freezing, it formed a white rime covering all the trees and cold surfaces. It’s pretty. More or less. I miss working outside. Winter put a stop to my fencing, shed building, wire pile removal, and otherContinue reading “Winter Beauty”

Chickens Are Cool

And cold, I suppose, now that winter has set in. They don’t like walking in snow, but they seem pretty happy. No signs of frost bit yet, either. Very gentle, curious birds. Roger, the young Rhode Island Red rooster, and the 3 Barred Plymouth Rock hens, are especially friendly, approaching closely and expectantly when I’mContinue reading “Chickens Are Cool”

Wild Turkeys Return!

TURKEYS! So glad to see you! I used to see 9 wild turkey hens regularly. It was always 9, no more, no less, precisely 9, for 2-3 months. They would be out in the pasture, at the edge of the woods, and usually work their slow, methodical way up into the yard and feed aroundContinue reading “Wild Turkeys Return!”

Greatly Missing Green

I certainly miss the green of spring and summer, and the colors of fall. Winter is so drab and lifeless. I’m not cold hardy, either, so my daily outside projects — other than refilling wild bird feeders, opening the chicken coop door in the early morning, changing frozen water containers, collecting eggs, and closing theContinue reading “Greatly Missing Green”

More Cats or NO MORE Cats?

I suppose the CAPS in the title gives away my current thinking. Since Scootch died, Nico sits under these two bird feeders a lot, just waiting to pounce on a careless bird. I really liked Scootch. She was special, more than a farm cat. Scootch bonded to me. (And me to her, despite my generalContinue reading “More Cats or NO MORE Cats?”

Farm Changes

Every time I pee in the toilet, I know I’m wasting valuable nitrogen. Every time I flush the toilet, I know I’m wasting good, finite water. Consciousness changes on the small calm farm.

Domesticated Predators, Part 3: I Miss You, Scootch

This is sad. But it’s a lesson. Certainly to me. Maybe to whoever else reads this. Scootch liked me. And I liked her, despite my general indifference to cats. She was more like a dog than a cat. She would stay close and watch me when I was working outside, pounding on this and that,Continue reading “Domesticated Predators, Part 3: I Miss You, Scootch”

Domesticated Predators, Part 2: In Affectionate Memory of Scootch

So… Mama Cat and her 4 little kittens had successfully moved into the garage and I had not yet moved permanently to the Small Calm Farm. I had purchased a good self-feeder and water dispenser that held enough food and water for several days for Mama Cat and her nursing babies and I visited atContinue reading “Domesticated Predators, Part 2: In Affectionate Memory of Scootch”

Functional? We Shall See.

I have this issue with the house/front yard portion and the larger majority of the small calm farm where I spend most my time (working or just enjoying the space). There’s a nice, solid 12 foot retaining wall between the house and the garage/property, but I must walk 40+ feet east to the end ofContinue reading “Functional? We Shall See.”