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!

New Years Eve, -7F this morning, Brr

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Morning of Christmas Eve 2017

Morning Sunrise!

Getting ready for this evening, driveway is a frozen slush mess.  Sanded like crazy, stall have to be careful though.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

It's almost Christmas!

It's almost Christmas!

Snowed pretty good all day Friday int Friday night, it;s been icing here since I went out to snow-blow at 8am.  Lot of the trees are bent over we're sure to lose power momentarily based on past storms of this type.

James and Jason are here for the weekend, playing Monopoly quietly, hah, lol, yeah I laughed too...  Just some sibling bickering...

We're prepping for Xmas eve,  so lots to do.   Merry Christmas to all!


I almost forgot...
Quite the menagerie coming through the last month or so, couple of Foxes, a few nice bucks, bunches of crows, a Coyote, and some sparring bucks too.  

Fox & the Fawn

Last years fox cub and this years fawn out in the deer yard.  Doe eventually skittered off not sure if she saw the fox or not, instinct finally told her to get out of there, she ran off into the tall grass and sat down disappearing from sight.

Recent Grads

 

CONGRATULATIONS 

JAMES AND JASON SANBORN 

"Class of 2024!"

James and Jason Sanborn graduated this week on Thursday the 15th from Hillsboro/Deering Elementary school, they are now officially middle schoolers.  

Well done & Congrats guys!

Where are all the Bees in NH

BEES?

Getting concerned about the bees this year, other than a bumble or two we just weren't seeing any bees on the plants on the farm.  The blossoms came and went without the usual covering of bees on our seven or so apple trees on the farm .  The plum we got from Dad also normally covered in thousands of bees along with numerous varieties of mason bees was also devoid of life we normally saw in the spring.  Our weeping cherry likewise, dandelions, lilacs, and Russia olives and honeysuckle saw no bees either.  It has been an odd year, odd storms, 95 degree days seemed earlier than normal and wetter than I remember in recent years. 

I did a quick search as we became more concerned, found this study that seems to confirm what we're seeing, 65-percent-of-New-Hampshire-bee-hives-lost. This can't be good, we don't eat the apples we grow, the deer on the property do though, I have a sinking feeling that there simply won't be any this year without the pollinators.  Will be curious to see how the various harvests fare this year. 

Local Ace hardware is selling bee hive kits and accessories, I've been considering getting a hive, been collecting articles on getting started with bees for a couple years now, maybe this will be the push I need.  Time will tell how this die off will impact the local farms and orchards.