Woodsy Winter

Yep...I'm here.  Winter is in full swing.

And my little woodstove is firing hot.  All is well.  Lots of firewood remains to swing into spring.

The chickadees aren't even waiting for me to get to the cabin before they come land on my head.  Are they beggars... or do they like me?  I won't answer that...

I'll check in soon.  I'm writing, but have to go from pen to paper, to lap top, to thumb drive, to local Library.  It takes some doing, but I'm committed.  Lots to tell...stay tuned.

Miss you all..."see" you soon, should the Lord tarry.

S

P.S.  No cabin fever...yet.

P.S.S.  Coyotes a plenty - view in broad daylight.  They don't give me a second thought.

Perimeter Predator

Like most things in life, things happen when you're not paying attention.

 But unfortunately, things happen even if you are paying attention. 

Just last week, circa 4:00 p.m., I was feeding the two goats their grain,
as I always do,
holding the bowl while they shared.

Upon looking out into the clearing,
I see 2 coyotes trolling in the field in front of the pig fencing and round pen.  

I was standing in the background under the shade trees.

I watched for about 8 minutes, as two coyotes trotted and circled the fencing, frustrated at the rabbits who were thumping their hind legs and flitting about, running for cover,
unlike these contented rabbits pictured below... 

The next day, Russ and I walked the portable fencing to double check all the connections.

We found where "something" had tried to bolt into the fencing
and flipped the fencing upside down, in the corner.
We knew it had to be one of the coyotes trying to enter. 

Had it been our pigs, it would have been from the inside out,
and they would have made their way through.  

As it stands, our pigs have never tested the fencing since the original poke. 

This isn't the first time we've seen coyotes in broad daylight.  

It's becoming an almost daily event.  

You'll note below, the coyote isn't even alarming our horses. 

That's an indicator he's been through many times.  

The morning I scared him off by the horses, he circled around and came in closer...

 And, unfortunately, two weeks ago, 

Mr. Jitters (my Heritage breed JAVA rooster) 

was snagged by a coyote, near our main cabin.

I loved that rooster...he was my favorite of all 5.

 

Needless to say, 

I always carry my little Marlin with me now,

when I head out on trails. 

Just in case a couple coyotes try to mingle too closely with my trusty dog, Zip.
Bear in mind, I would not shoot at a coyote, just shoot to scare if off.

Although per Michigan DNR:  
Coyote may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee all year if they are doing or about to do damage on private property. A license or written permit is not needed.

Zip lets me know if she smells a coyote, either on the ground, or in the wind.

She's not a fan...and the hackles standing up on her back indicate such.

But even knowing they are a predator, I'm fascinated by them.

Until tomorrow, God willing...

Speaking of tomorrow...I plan on giving you a tour of our place in the next couple days...

so you can figure out just what's what, and where we are.

Perhaps we can connect the dots.

Two Weeks Today

These last few weeks, I have felt like the elusive coyote.

Trotting around the perimeter of the action, but not making a move.

Frozen.

Unable to tend to my writings.

Truth is, I've never been busier in my life. 

Sweat, aches, bruises, exhaustion.

For I'm now "running the show" at our farm and kennel.

Russ is out of commission,

due to his riding accident two weeks ago, and barely able to use crutches.

Our world is different now. 

For Russ, it is accepting the pain, constant bed rest and time needed to mend.

For me, it is becoming a farmer, and all it encompasses. 

Plain and simple.

Instead of being behind the camera, I'm there, in the trenches.

And, let me tell you...there's a beauty so raw, so real,

it's almost too difficult to write about.

But I'll try.

Stay tuned.  As we begin our 3rd week with Russ healing.

And me helping.

As any help meet would do.

And the LORD God said,

"It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."

Genesis 2:18

Please feel free to add us to your prayer list for Russ' healing,

as we listen to God's word, and do his work.

Hour by hour, day by day.

Until tomorrow, Lord willing.

Trail Cam

Today, Russ and I set up our new Trail Cam.

To video...

Who knows, we may get a shot of a little fella like the masked bandit above.

Half the fun will be the 3 mile walk on our trails each day to see who has been by for a visit.

While setting up the Cam today, we saw lots of activity. 

Deer.

And we interrupted a coyote who had made a kill,

 and had a quick dinner ~ a beautiful Blue Bird.

I'm excited to see what the Trail Cam picks up, situated on a tree,

back by our Bear's Den cabin. 

I can't help but feel a party goes on at night, under the cover of darkness.

Now, we'll know...

Until tomorrow, God willing.



The Magic Hour

I love the hour right before the sun goes down. It’s magical, both in lighting and in content. 

Last week, as the temps were at their peek after a long day of climbing from single digits,

I sat on our swing by our main cabin,

just out of reach of the dog yard, but in full view of all our animals.

While I gently rocked, I tipped my head back to capture the last of the sun’s rays as it exited the evening sky. I had just returned from breaking out a new trail on our 40 acres. I was tired of taking a dogsled over the embankment of our long drive, so I came up with a way to avoid that route. Hence, I put in a new trail. Actually, I was perfecting one that Russ had begun in the summer months, over a year ago. It connected one campsite to another, but entered into an area of the woods where no trail currently goes, other than the wildlife. I was overheated from walking in the deep snow. Snow so deep and sugary that it sucked my Yaktraks off my Muck boots. Luckily, I keep watch for such things and retrieved it on the way back through. Now, I was sitting, waiting for Russ to finish with the horses, so we could move into the final step of the nightly chores, the dogs. But while I waited, I sunk deeper into the warm, heavy wooden swing, rocking with a rhythm of the land, enjoying the small break at the end of a long, wonderous day.

I could hear the melting snow drip, drip, drip off the “old mill” roof, pinging on a bucket below. To the right of me I could hear the new roosters, youngsters who aged over the winter, try out their new cock-a-doodle do. Scratchy, screechy and short. In front of me a black American Silver Fox rabbit moseyed up to a white Californian and sized her up for motherhood. In the near distance I could hear the hogs squabble over whose turn it was to spin the feeder turnstyle. Their grunts and squeals mixed with the squeak of the metal as it turned, spilling out feed with every spin. Zip, my faithful companion dog, laid in an alert style on the snowy drive. Content to stay near, as always. I watched out of the corner of my eye. She too basked in the sunlight, absorbing the last rays. Beyond Zip I could see our trio of horses, head’s down eating hay provided earlier, their bodies lit up by the sun’s rays. The goats were also quiet, no doubt either chewing cud or hay, bellies full with their sweet grain and grasses. Several crows overhead gave a call, adding to the barnyard banter. The crows reminded me of all the coyote tracks I had seen on my way out to the trail. They traversed the field and came amazingly close to the barnyard perimeter.  Yes, we had a full house.

My thoughts were quickly diverted as the sled dogs began to stir. They always see Russ before I do, and alert me to his presence. Part 2 of the evening chores would begin. Right on schedule, closing out the magic hour.

Until tomorrow, God willing.  And wondering, is this Heaven?

Turkey Trouble

Our resident turkeys were grateful for my "outhouse trek" interruption earlier this morning.

A lone coyote was making a selection as I interceded, merely with my presence.

I watched the long-legged intruder for several minutes, in the 27 degree temp, sans coat.

I love watching Canis Latrans move...their gate...their confidence.

He respected me and ditched his efforts.

He and I exchanged glances as he slipped into the pines to the north.

Good way to start the day...saving a life or two.