Camping 2018

Camping last week was HOT!   

Wow, setting up camp in 96 degrees with 70% humidity was brutal, took a while to recover from that, maybe again in the fall.  It cooled off later in the week back to the 80s, that made for some better fishing too.  We cut the week short though, midweek Harley had a stroke (Not as bad in dogs as it is in humans, scary to see though, thankfully we were there when it happened.)  We called our vet and spend a few nights at home just in case though so far no recurrence and Harley seems to be doing much better.

Camping was great, Fishing, eating, swimming, sitting around the fire, a Pie Eating contest.  I caught a nice small-mouth bass, and several Kibs,  I think Jarrod caught a nice size perch and 30+ kibs.  James is becoming quite the fisherman too.  Jason worked on his fishhook removal skills from caught fish.

 Jarrod's dog Lexie at the campground. "Not begging..."

 One of the marauding Chipmunks stealing dog kibble.

 Relaxing

 Boys lit the fire

 Our Campsite for the week

 Lexie catching Ice Cream

 The Tractor ride

Jason  Post Pie Eating Blueberry, and cream

 Jarrod the Camp cook!

Black Bear in the Deer Yard

Had a Black Bear visit the Deer Yard a couple time the last few weeks.  I figured that I'd look out the back door in the morning to see the feeder and feed barrels knocked over.  So far he's left everything alone.

 

SPRING 2018 - Been a while

SPRING 2018 - Been a while

WINTER CLEANUP
It's been a crazy spring so far, we were in the 70 the end of February, then back to cold in March, and a wet April, we've already swept up 150+ pounds of sand that was put on the icy walkways this winter.  Our plow guy made a mess of the lawn (due the warm stretches) and driveway this year, much more to do here.

I heard someone say dog poop was excessive this winter and oh boy was it.

Trees and brush, WOW!
Between the 11+ trees that came down around the yard to shrubs that died due to the subzero temps in January this winter was one for the record books.
Good new is my new Stihl chainsaw I got last year is awesome, took care of some 14" Elm that was threatening to come down with no problem.  Still 4 to 5 standing dead elms needing to come down, I'll wait till I have help for some of these near the road we'll need to chain and pull these over as they are leaning towards the road.  I figure I could spend about a month this year just clearing blow downs and snow damaged trees this year.  So far we're only taking the trees that are visible from the yard, the others are in the woodlot and would be a full time job for someone (Not me) to clear, there are enough blow downs there that the deer herd has had to start using other trails in and out of the deer yard. 

SPRING CRITTERS
Birds
All the birds are now vying for all of the birdhouses in the yard
Sparrows, Redpolls, a pair of tree swallow scouts cam in on the 12th, and the Bluebirds came in a couple weeks ago... Martin house isn't up yet, weather isn't cooperating, it's big so I need to make sure whatever we do will stand up to the winds we'll get right through May.

Worms
Earthworms showed up Thursday the 12th here, Robins will be happy, then of course winter came back Sunday April 15th, 1/4" of sleet so far.


Deer
So far in 2018 looks like the herd is at about 7 deer on a semi daily basis.  Deer feeder Jarrod gave us for Xmas is working well.

Woodcock
We have somewhere between 3 and 4 or so Woodcock between the neighbors pond and Lake Chloe that call and flutter back and forth between the properties here almost nighty.  A loud "Peent" is the call we hear!





Turkeys
We saw 10 or so up the street, they made it through the winter, we've only seen them here in the yard a couple times in previous years and not since.  Bummer.

Did she say BEAR?
Black Bear - April 7th during the day in the deer yard, I ran to get the camera of course he/she decided to head back out the way it came in, so I got just a butt...  Rosie thought it was last years cub, not as big as the one we had last year, but he/she was big.

Peepers
We heard them peeping in Bedford heading back from Easter dinner at Sheila's, must be cooler here we have not heard them here this year yet. 

 

-13F this morning...

Just when you thought it was safe to go out again, -13F this morning, hoping the cars start up ok.

We put the bagged quarts of Chicken and Turkey soup on the doghouse roof to freeze over-nite I think they'll be frozen...

New Years Day - January 1st 2018

January 1st 2018

Happy New Year 2018

Northeast still in the deep freeze, high temps of 8 degrees F today, just brutal,  with the wind we're closer to 10+ below zero.  We've been sub zero since Christmas in the over-nite hours... Dogs are out only when we are, we need to keep constant watch as they will start lifting alternate feet due to the cold within minutes in this weather.

Today is freezer soup day, were making up large batches of both turkey and chicken soups today we'll freeze it up in quart bags that'll last through the winter.  The three pots are out in the snow cooling so we can bag it up.

• One Chicken soup with Pasta
• Turkey with wild rice
• Another Turkey with pasta

Kale soup and Chili are next...  I'm out of Kale soup already... 

We're putting additional food out for all the outdoor animals, the chickens enjoy some bird seed with their normal feed, crackers, bread and kale, rabbits and the deer are getting a little extra too.

Hope you have a great New Year!