The Hummers are back!

Every spring and every fall I will have a hummingbird or two but never through the summer so I only put feeders out when I see them. Last Saturday I was getting ready to wash the living room windows, my sister in law, Sue, the glass artist, made this lovely stained glass picture and painted a cardinal on the glass.

I just pulled out the couch and came face to face with a hummingbird trying to get at the red frame!

I quickly mixed up some sugar water, enough for three feeders and luckily I knew where I kept them, not always the case. It took awhile to hang the three, I had to confiscate some fishing line from one of Bruce's poles because if I don't, the ants take over the feeders.

All three were hung and I waited, and waited, and waited, an entire week. I kept thinking I should change out the sugar water but with the flooding, taking care of the baby calf and helping friends, I didn't do it. Friday noon I was cleaning up the dinner dishes when a hummingbird was at the feeder!!

Great Excitement Abounded!!

I quickly mixed up a new batch of sugar water and when he left, I raced out and took down that feeder. While I was washing it in the sink, I kept watch out the window and soon he was back, zipping around, rather confused.

"It was here just a minute ago!!"

I took that one back and hung it and got the other two. Then I set up the camera on the tripod with remote shutter and sat out on the front porch waiting.

I think they are called Hummingbirds because if you are close enough to hear them, as they sip the nectar, they say, "Hmmmmm." No lie, I was just inches away from one outside the garden shed and heard him.

If you have the patience you can get hummingbirds to eat out of your hand by holding a feeder, first starting with a dummy sitting in a chair near the feeder until they get used to it. I even saw a picture of a fat guy laying on his back on a picnic table with a red flower painted around his belly button and a hummingbird sipping nectar out of it!

No chance of that happening here! Don't be afraid to drive in and set a spell.

Tending baby in a flooded pasture

Two of our heifers are very late in calving, Bruce thinks that they over ate on corn last fall when turned out in the combined fields and aborted their calves, so were bred back late. Finally #40 started to show and we have waited and waited and waited.

"Aren't you EVER going to have that baby?"

"Who wants to know?"

To complicate matters, I discovered over the weekend that another calf was nursing the heifer, depleting her colostrum that is vital for the new born calf. All we could do was keep watch and give the new baby some powdered colostrum as soon as it was born.

The days have been sunny and warm, perfect for calving and then the rains came, 5 inches in 24 hours and then she decides to have her calf! We tried to get her up to the barn but with the pasture flooding it was impossible. All we (Bruce) could do was watch in the rain for the blessed birth.

Luckily it was a warm rain, he hung out with the rest of the cows, surreptitiously peeking through the herd as #40 pushed awhile, then got up and grazed awhile. He came home to eat dinner, soaked to the skin, stripped everything off to go in the dryer, and dressed in dry clothes. The rain finally stopped and he drove the 4-wheeler back over to see if any progress was made. 

Bruce knew immediately that she had the calf because all the cows were gathered around, he just didn't know if it was alive.

He was indeed alive and well, being sniffed and snuffled by several cows, they love a new baby. It's much like a room of grandmothers at a baby's christening, everyone wants to hold it.

They have to settle for sniffing and an occasional lick.

The mother getting some advice from a seasoned cow....

"I know it seems overwhelming at first, but before you know it he will be going off to college."

We gave the little guy an hour to recover from his birth, he was still wet and sticky but we had to get the colostrum in him before he nursed. He was a big boy and strong, it took both of us to hold him while Bruce tubed him, then we carried him to high ground as the creek was coming up even more. His mother was quite concerned so we left the two alone to bond. In the night the storms came up again and when morning came it was lightening too much to go check on him. Bruce and I went to help some friends whose basement flooded, they had twice the amount of rain we did, and didn't get home till late afternoon. 

When we got home I took the 4-wheeler to go look for him and found the mother way down in the pasture, across the deep water with the other cows but no baby, I was sick! I criss-crossed the pasture for nearly an hour, looking, searching and praying the little guy had the good sense to stay on high ground. Just as I was about to give up, he stood up, he was safe but very, very hungry. I got Bruce and we decided if she wouldn't come to her baby, we would take him to her. We loaded a deep bed of straw in the back of the gator and, much to the dogs dismay they were ordered to stay home, and drove back to the pasture. That's all I would need, me, a calf and two big dogs in the back of the gator. Even though I knew the general vicinity the calf was, it was hard to see him because of the high grass. He took being lifted into the gator in stride and I crawled in to hold him. He seemed to enjoy the ride, for awhile, then started thrashing, and he was strong! It was all I could do to hold him, at one point he kicked my glasses off with his back hoof but didn't break them. Bruce was hightailing it down the road, past our house to the home farm. The calf settled down, we drove through the yard and down the dirt road to the pasture but by that time the cows had moved and were on their way to the pasture gate, they paid no attention to Bruce's "Come Boss!!" So it was back to the home place where we unloaded the baby in the cow maternity pen, we would sort off her mother when we got them up.

Bruce took the tractor and loaded silage while I opened some gates and closed others, then ran down the lane where all the cows were waiting, rather impatiently I might add. The cows surged past me, "to the  barn, to the barn!" We sorted off the mother and put her in with her calf, boy was she surprised! He was famished. We kept two other old cows with their calves with the pair so she wouldn't panic and go through the fence, they do not like to be alone. After two harrowing days, they were where we wanted them to be all along.

The next morning I took my camera to get pictures and found him with a full belly, sleeping in the sun.

He hardly woke up when I got in with him.

But his mother was none too pleased.

"What are you doing to my baby??"

A lick on the face and she was happy again.

Today was doctoring day, #40 and #33, who was also born in the pasture, needed shots and fly tags. If #33 could talk, she would have a story to tell because she was attacked by something out there. When we found her, she had two skinned places on her back.

It's a dangerous world out there for newborn calves because the cows will stash them away and go join the other cows for awhile, she was lucky.

After being stuck twice with a needle and an ear piercing with the purple fly tag, he didn't seem to hold it against us.

In fact when Bruce released him, he came over to where I was and laid down.

They will stay at the barn for a few more days before returning to the pasture with the herd, he will be a lot stronger and hopefully his mother will keep a better eye on him. Now if #23 would just have her calf, without a rain storm in mix, we will be very happy also.

Well, we can always wish.

Creekfest 2015!

"Party in the pasture the weekend the cows can't come home!"

One evening in Cherokee County, two couples were sitting on a picnic table in a pasture drinking too much beer. (Don't even ask why a picnic table was in a pasture.) There was a big hill behind them and it overlooked lovely Mill Creek that wound around through the land.

One of them, not sure if it was Fred or Kurt, said, "Wouldn't this be a great place to have a party?"

Thus Creekfest was born.

It had pretty modest beginning, using a lot of local bands but people loved it, Bruce and I helped out the first three years but when Fred and Peg got out, we did to. After all, we aren't getting any younger and it was always HOT! This year Creekfest moved, just down the road from us and what a venue! Kurt and his crew have been working on for the last year and it was pretty spectacular. The band Perry was the headliner for Friday night and Big and Rich were on stage Sat night. This is a video Bruce took from the top of the hill overlooking the entire set up, I've had issues in the past on viewing video's, I hope not this time.

I took my camera and honking big lens and took pictures late Sat but the wind was blowing and I had a problem with shutter shake. I took a lot of pictures but had a lot of failures, the problem was in the direct sunlight, it was impossible to tell how the pictures came out without the computer to load them on. I need to figure out a solution for that.

There was a lot of fun in Mill Creek, water sports with 4-wheelers.

Even a ferris wheel!

A bevy of beautiful women in bikinis and muscular men in shorts, hmmmm, wonder what is in those coolers??

Cooling off in Mill Creek on a sand bar, hmmmm, wonder what was in all those cans?

In the background was the bridge across Mill Creek that linked the concert ground to the camping ground, two semi trailers parked back to back. After it's over, they simply pull them out and park them for next year.

The stage - Uh, I really need to use my level.

Creekfest is just a memory now but planning is underway for 2016, headliner is Kid Rock, whoever he is. He has never played Iowa and draws crowds of a quarter of a million!! Not that they think that many people will descend on Cherokee County, Gulp!

It sure put 470th St. on the map so if you have a yen to party in the pasture next year, we can direct you.

Edited to add - We heard from our good friend, Howie Rupp that he was included in other veterans who were being honored on Saturday night. He said they would meet him at the gate and escort him on stage, we thought that was terrific.

Fast forward to Monday morning, Bruce was listening to WNAX, a radio station in Yankton, S.D., and Jim Reimler, one of the announcers said, "I have to give a big shout out to Howard Rupp of Cleghorn, IA!" I'm not sure if Jim was the MC but he met Howie and told him he would do that.

Salute, Howie!!

Let the Voting Begin!!

Today is the first day of voting for my picture in the Farm News photo contest, get the vote out!! Don't let the cute little girl with the pig win out, be tough, cute kids shouldn't get everything!!

Some people misunderstood that you have to have a Facebook account to vote, you do not, but you will  have to create an account with Farm News so no cheating ensues.

We all hate cheaters, right!!

It's quick and painless!!

http://messenger.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=180347

Click on the link and it will take you to the page, you have a week, don't be weak!!

Vote for liberty and justice, vote for ME!! 

Marcus Fair happenings

Thursday was the entry day for the Marcus Fair, my friend, Kim, has been planning all summer for her entries, I started Thursday morning.

Can you tell which arrangement in the Dining by Candlelight category is mine??

Our judge is a great gal, Mary, from either Remsen or LeMars who really knows her stuff and tries every year to beat it into our head. She likes things rather simple, coordinated, using only two or three flower colors for an arrangement, I failed miserably.

When she came to the place settings, I entered the Beach Party category, she took in my wild towel, colorful plates, candles and flowers and was at a loss for words.

 "Chaotic?", I suggested helpfully and she burst into laughter and nodded her head. I think she expects us (me) to take this more seriously than we (I) do.

Then she extolled the virtues of Kim's tasteful entry that earned her a blue ribbon, I got the pity second only because there were just two entries.

Kim also wowed Mary and everyone else with her Garden Lady, she was so spectacular that the judge was desperately trying to find another entry that she could even judge her against.

It was plain that she was in a class all by herself and before long she was sporting a huge, purple ribbon.

The best entertainment at the fair this year was The Westernaires, a precision riding group made up of urban and suburban youngsters from 9-19 years of age. They are a non-profit group out of Jefferson County, CO. This organization started 66 years ago with the idea of using horses to develop discipline, social skills, personal confidence and responsibility in these young people. Each rider must maintain regular enrollment in school while a member of the organization. It has been highly successful and they go all over the country doing performances.

This talented young man is demonstrating the art of Roman riding, standing on two horses as they canter around the arena, it is not for the faint of heart.

These girls are riding their horses with no saddles, bridles or reins, just a strap around the neck, they they all took a jump at once with no hands.

Do not try this at home!

This picture is of two Westernaires demonstrating Cossack Riding and switching riders on one horse at a full gallop......

.....and sometimes the horse wins!

This group did two performances at the fair and also rode in the parade. This is their third trip here, mostly due to Nancy Heir, a local resident, who's granddaughter was once a member. The kids love coming to Marcus, when they are thanked for coming, they immediately say, "No, Thank YOU, for having us!"

All good times must come to an end, but not before Kim and I make fools of ourselves while taking over the little kids photo op! I had the hard part, having to nearly lay on the ground to get low enough, then I had to get back up.

Little kids were milling around, pretty disgusted that we were hogging their photo booth.

This is a plug for votes, I entered this photo in the Farm News fair photo contest.

I think it is pretty darned good and there are $300 in prizes on the line. Here is the link if you are so inclined to vote for my picture....http://messenger.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=180347

You will have to register because only one vote per account, originally the voting was to commence today, but they weren't getting as many entries as they thought so they have extended the time and voting begins on Sat.

I will admit that I'm up against kids, darned cute kids but don't be swayed!! Vote for justice and liberty, vote for me!!!!

Trump at the Marcus Fair!!!

Yeah, yeah, I know it wasn't really Trump, he was coming down off the big debate last night but as Bruce and I were leaving the fair right after dinner, we met this bus!

We drove down the street a block and I said to Bruce, "We have to go back so I can get a picture, it's too good of an opportunity!" Bruce did turn around, our parking space was still there so he pulled in and parked again. We set out for the fairground, certain that the bus had pulled in. 

It hadn't.

We went out the west gate, scanning the streets for the purple bus but then noticed a young man wearing a Trump t-shirt. I yelled, "Where's the bus??" He turned around and grinned, then pointed at the corner and there it sat. He was trying to find a place to park but not necessarily on the grounds.

We asked him how the heck they knew about the Marcus fair and he said he has a very good friend who keeps him informed about all that is going on in the community. Then he asked Bruce what his name was and when Bruce told him, he said, "I know you! Do you still have your radio station?"

It was Chris Hupke from Cherokee and his informant was Jon Furhman, our good friend and neighbor. 

What a small world. This picture is his parents at the garden tour in July out here at the farm.

Bruce watched the hog show while I was in the flower building this morning, both Carly and Carson, Jon's kids showed hogs so we knew they were on the grounds yet. Chris told us to get in the bus and we would go find a parking place.

I rode in (one) of Trump's bus'.

You would think with his money it would be a little fancier.

Bruce called Jon and told him we were going to find a parking spot for the bus, right where you drive to the fairground is an empty lot with a sign on the tree, way back and to the right, with a phone number, For Sale. I called that number and asked if we could park a bus for the day on that lot. Whoever was on the phone, gave his permission.

I didn't say who's bus!!

Then Bruce wanted his picture in front of the bus, we shook hands with Chris again, I actually got a hug, and left for home. I had chickens that needed to be let out and a salad to make for Janet and Gerald's 50th anniversary celebration tonight.

It probably won't be quite as exciting - but you never know, the day is still young.

Hosting, being hosted and a Blue Moon

Last week was a busy one for Bruce and I, his second cousin, Margaret McCoy and family from Ohio were here visiting her husband's family at the Lakes and we were invited to join them for a pontoon ride, a Nutty Bar, and supper. Two years ago they came to the farm and we served them up some burgers, they wanted to return the hospitality. We found their home with little trouble and were greeted with hugs and smiles all around. It was a gloomy, cloudy, threatening rain day but everyone except the two babies and their grandpa, Barry, who stayed behind to wrangle them, piled in the pontoon and headed across the lake to Arnold's Park for the promised Nutty Bar.

Bruce and Margaret braved the splashes from the front of the boat, I, chicken that I am, retreated to the rear.

Barry's Uncle Leon is piloting the craft with Kira, a delightful young lady, the daughter of his nephew who helps him take care of the large property.

The other three are Megan to Kira's left, Michael, Margaret's children and Michael's wife, Sara, mother of the two babies back at the house.

When we docked, Megan set out to find the dangerous board in the dock that nearly did them in the day before and is rejoicing that someone fixed it and we were all safe.

After consuming Nutty Bars and shopping for souvenir t-shirts for the entire family, we stumbled upon oversized musical instruments in the green space and everyone had to try them out. Michael and Kira are playing the, well, what ever they are.

Bruce and Margaret attempt to play chopsticks and don't do too bad a job.

We felt some sprinkles so hurried aboard the pontoon for the trip home, Bruce was the smart one who brought his jacket, mine was in the car but "NOOOOOOO, I didn't need it!" Despite the showers that kept catching up to us, Michael and Megan got on the tube and rode it back to the house, getting dumped twice. 

Oh, it's so nice to be young!

At the house the babies were up, Katie is a doll, at 5 months old, she has everyone wrapped around her little finger.

Gabriel, who was 10 months old the last time we saw him, is an extremely independent 3 yr old, but his grandpa Barry, knew just how to handle him when he got up from his nap a little cranky and was soon roughhousing with his daddy.

We had a great time, we gorged ourselves on tacos and sweetcorn and watched the sun come out over the lake. It would have been nice to stay and watch the sun go down over the lake but we had a long drive home. Lots of hugs all around with promises we will see them in a couple of years again, hopefully at the farm next time and we set out for home.

Jean and John were coming on Thursday and, as usual, I left the house cleaning to the last minute so I was busy the next couple of days and Zoe didn't understand why I couldn't come and spend all day in the gazebo with her! She would sit in the back window of the house and meow at me until I went to open the door, then she ran to the gazebo and waited for me to come.

She was disappointed.

We were surprised when Carol came down from Minn and stayed with Janet and Foof. There are two things that can be counted on when the whole gang is together, there will be golfing and there will be eating and this time was no exception. Friday they golfed at Quimby and Sat at Paullina and a good time was had by all.

Friday we had BLT's (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for you who don't know) and sweetcorn for dinner after the golfing. It was so delicious, we did it again after golfing on Saturday. The perfect summertime meal.

Saturday night we went to Germantown for the Hideout's famous broasted chicken and fries, there is something very decadent about your food arriving on trays, heaped high and hot. We all dived in like a pack of hungry wolves and easily consumed 3 1/2 chickens.

John came back from the men's room chuckling about a sign that is handwritten on the wall above the stool, "Stand closer, please, it's shorter than you think."

Friday night was a Blue Moon, the second full moon in a single month, the last one was in 2012 and the next one will be 30 months away. I took my honking big lens out by the bean field and snapped a few pictures and this one was featured on Channel 4 news on Saturday night!

I'm a legend in my own mind!

All good things must come to an end, we all have lives to get back to so early Sunday morning Jean and John packed up and headed home to WI. It's always lonely when company is gone so I got busy stripping beds and loading a pile of towels in the washer. They were all drying on the line before church and after church were either back on the bed or folded and in the bathroom closet. I brought the mason jar of flowers downstairs and closed off the guest bedroom to the cats, wiping away any vestige of occupation, it was as though they weren't even here.

All that was left was the memories.

Well, that and a very happy Zoe.