One of my biggest pet peeves!!!

Who here on the internet has received the call, "I'm from Microsoft and I'm here to help you," actually they are here to help themselves from your wallet.

Raise you hand now.....(I'm raising mine.)

Today was the third time in less than a month and they are persistent, they do not take "You're a scammer, quit bothering me!!" and hang up. Instead they talk calmly and try to convince you that your computer is emailing them and saying it has a problem.

Yeah, like your computer is that smart! 

"Help, help, I have a virus and need a doctor...."

If you look up Microsoft scams, this is #1 and there are still people out there falling for it because they can make themselves sound legitimate. Run to your computer now and Google Microsoft scams and see how many people they are targeting and how much the average person has lost.

You might ask, "Why don't you just hang up?"

That is a very good question but Bruce and I have a game we play with telemarketers because our CML Telephone Coop is what a Coop is supposed to do, they pay us back each year, a handsome dividend. When telemarketers use their phone lines, it is costing them, thus putting money in our pocket. 

That would be a good reason to move here, to take advantage of this, think about it.

As I said, these guys can be persuasive, the one I got a couple weeks ago really creeped me out because he not only knew my internet address, the string of numbers but he also knew CML was my internet provider. When I hung up I called Bruce at CML and he said they can find out a lot of things but they can't get into my computer unless I let them so I was relieved and ready to do battle again.

So we tend to string telemarketers along, we've had them on the line 10-15 minutes and these guys are extremely devoted to their mission so it's easy. In between their attempt to coerce me to let them into my computer, I'm shouting things like:

"Hang up you loser and quit bothering me!!"

"I know this is a scam and I'm not going to fall for it because I'm smart and you aren't!!"

"Get a REAL JOB and quite being a leech!!"

"My computer isn't going to email anyone that it's got a problem, you are the one with the problem!!"

Feel free to add your own phrases, feel free to pass them along.

It really is a great stress reliever if you are having a bad day.

So, dear readers, don't fall for this scam, no matter how convincing they are. If you don't want to play my game, just hang up the phone and Google Microsoft scams.

I feel much better now. 

Not the beaver.....

....but geese! I set the game camera up at the pond to see what nefarious deeds the beaver was up to but the joke was on me.

Instead of a beaver, a pair of geese investigated the site....

....something wasn't right!

He either sees or hears the camera...

....and rushes to defend his mate from the intruder!

"What are YOU looking at??"

They decided it was harmless and she settled in on a nest...

....Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.....

....both of them doing a little grooming.

Geese lay one egg a day until they have a clutch that they think is manageable so I'm assuming she laid one egg, then covered the nest and left for the night. The next morning the dogs and I went over to retrieve the camera and I saw a goose egg lying down the bank by the edge of the water. The dogs investigated it also but decided it was nothing to retrieve.

We took the camera back home, downloaded the sd card and saw how the drama unfolded. 

The geese returned the next day and discovered to their shock and horror that the egg was missing!!!!

"Our baby, Our Baby!!"

"Oh, Woe is us!! Our dreams are shattered!!"

We haven't been back to see if they took this little setback in stride or they gave up the hope of a family. We shall see.

This just makes me smile!

After a few days of grey, drizzly weather, this baby found the sun and clean bedding.

"AHHHHHHH!"

"And Jerry Mathers as The Beaver!"

Who remembers those words from the old tv show 'Leave it to Beaver?' It was a cute show with 'The Beave' always getting into scrapes, his annoying big brother, Wally and indulgent parents, June, who vacuumed in high heels and Ward. Well, the real life beavers are a pain in the butt!

If it isn't the Wascally Wabbits, it's the Dang Beavers! Bruce really didn't mind the beaver working down the road at the bridge, he didn't care if they cut every tree down there. But beavers are never satisfied and had to go to the pond and start in there.

The dogs and I went over one day last week, parked in the first driveway and walked through to the picnic area where the overflow is. It was a gorgeous day and the geese were everywhere, a flock took off from one of the ponds and flew in circles over head, waiting for us to get out of there so they could land again.

"Circling, circling, intruders are still there."

"Abort mission, make another pass."

I knew the overflow was plugged because water was nearly to the top of the dock. We have an old rake stashed against a tree just for these times and I raked away what I could reach from my precarious spot. I didn't have my high boots on so couldn't do the entire area, but I got the water moving again.

The dogs went in for a dip....

.....Murphy has made a water dog out of Mollie.

Murphy demonstrates the running shake, one way....

....then the other, as she is always on the move.

I reported on the beaver when I got home but a week went by before Bruce decided to check it out for himself. The first clue was the dock completely under water.....

...."Oh man! That dang beaver!"

But first he must acknowledge the arrival of his trusty canine companions.

Bruce was prepared with his knee boots....

.....it's a lot of work tearing out a beaver dam as they have engineering degrees. They pull grasses and pack them in with mud mixed with branches they have cut and gnawed free of bark....

.....you want to be darned sure you have good footing so you don't go over the falls and down the creek.

I imagined the banjo's playing 'Deliverance' as the water rushed over rocks and branches down the spillway into Bear Creek.

This will last for a few days but we know they will be back, unless Bruce blows them to smithereens, which I'm 99% sure won't happen.

Thus is the start of a running battle between man and supersized rodent, may the best one win.

It's Tuesday and another new baby

Our favorite cow on the farm had her baby this morning, #1. I know, you aren't supposed to have favorites but she comes from a long line of favorite cows and this morning she showed the reason why she is #1, literally.

Bruce drove the tractor with crate into the yard where the calf was and I was on foot. The calf didn't stay in one spot, she toddled around bawling and her mother was right behind her. I guided the calf to the crate right under her mother's nose and she never made a threatening gesture but remained calm.

The calf had sucked so Bruce decided to bypass the barn and put the pair in with the other cow and calf already in the lean-to. 

Not only is #1 a gentle cow, she is smart, she knows we ALWAYS go to the barn! She stood in the doorway for a few minutes before giving up, going back down the ramp, around the fence and into the lean-to.

"This just isn't right!"

Bruce gave baby #1 her new ear tag, ouch....

.....and released her into her watchful mother's care.

A better picture of #78, our Easter baby.

And another reminder of why I don't kiss my dog on the lips, she is eating baby calf poop! There is nothing as delectable as baby calf poop!

Then we loaded up and went to the pond to see what was going on over there and came across this goose egg laying out in the field. 

She probably thought it was just gas.

The dogs made a great discovery, a beaver den!

They found it yesterday on a point of land south of the picnic area that the beavers have covered with trimmed branches. Mollie found an entrance hole on top and was determined to dig the beaver (s) out but I called her off. I don't know how dangerous they might be but anyone with teeth like they have can't be good.

Instead I set up the game camera to, once again, I've tried before, get a picture of the big rodent.

It's a good thing Bruce can't get hold of dynamite, he'd blast them to smithereens! 

Easter, time for new mothers and mother wannabees

Our snow is nearly a distant memory as this Easter morning dawned bright and sunny with calm winds. We had early church and then breakfast afterwards, so all the chores were put off until we arrived home later in the morning.

Bruce found an Easter surprise in the cow yard, #78 had a bouncing baby boy (He thinks!).

(I know the photo leaves much to be desired but new cow mothers are not eager to show off their babies, instead they paw the shucks under foot and throw snot on you. Tomorrow will be a better day.)

We were surprised because we did not expect a calf this early, Bruce shoots for mid April by turning the bull down on July 4th. This year the big bull decided it was time to go visit the ladies, put his head under a gate and lifted it off the hinges, went down the lane, wrecked the gate to the pasture and went about the business of spreading his seed around. Obviously he was quite successful.

So baby watch 2016 is officially on and off to a great start!

Baby watch indeed as the mother wannabees line up at the gate......

....and wish for a glimpse of the future king. (Oh, sorry, I was thinking of when the new baby was born at Buckingham Palace.)

They do so love a new baby!

Back at home I watched the little frizzle chick, give in to her hormones and attempt to incubate 3 normal size eggs. She went into a nest to lay her tiny, pigeon like egg, and came upon the bounty. She settled in over one egg, carefully tucked her beak around another and maneuvered the second egg under her and tried her darndest to cover the third one also, but there was no more room at the inn.

She fluffed out her feathers and concentrated on the job at hand, to produce one of her own. 

"There now babies, I'll keep you warm."

Later I found that she had just been playing house for awhile when I spotted her out scratching for bugs. One broody hen at a time is good for me.

The dogs and I decided to check out the pond and, as I was driving out of the lane, I spotted another sign of spring, the first striped gopher of the season. He was a fat little guy and looked as startled as I was and dove down his hole.

When we came home and I turned in the driveway, I saw what looked like a pile of fur in the same vicinity of the gopher and did a u-turn. Then the pile of fur moved and Bruiser looked over his shoulder at me!

He saw the gopher too and was envisioning fresh meat for supper.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Easter wishes from Zoe and I.....

Happy Easter everyone!

(Thanks, Beck, I LOVED the card!!!)