Bucky Badger at Work

 I took my tractor out to mow the trails a couple weeks ago and found a huge hole in the way! A large amount of sand dug out and it was right in my way. I have found many of these huge dugouts in the horse pasture from time to time, but always figured it was coyotes digging for rodents. This one was much larger although there was no sign of any recent activity of which I thought might be a badger. 

Winnie included for perspective. I decided to just go around the hole as far as I could to the right. Which worked fine until the front wheels of the John Deer fell into the excavation that went far into the opposite direction of the hole! OK. Now I'm thinking "How am I going to explain this one?" However, I have been a regular viewer of the shows that have heavy equipment in situations such as this. After having a think about it, I set the bucket firmly down, which lifted the front tires enough to let the back tires move us out of the pit. I'm free!

Later I went out to refill the holes and tamped down the huge cavity so I don't fall into it the next time I ride Cheyenne out there.

Run, Bambi, Run!

 I took the horses out to their pasture one morning recently and noticed a doe at the NE corner of the enclosure effortlessly bound over the 4' fence. Thinking.....I wonder if..... And sure enough I found a tiny fawn tucked into the corner of the fencing. The horses were already out there, so I couldn't just leave it sitting there for hours until they came home, so I made the executive decision to take the little one to the other side of the fence to reunite with momma. 

The little one was barely the weight of my largest fatty cat. She bleated her disapproval right away when I picked her up! All legs but not struggling to escape. We made our way back to the gate and then back to nearly the corner of the fence. I released the fawn with all my best wishes for her and her momma. She scampered off and I was hoping she found her way to a reunion. My wishes were granted when in the early morning hours a couple days later I saw a doe with her little fawn relaxing in the water of our creek. 

My Grow Operation

 I have had time to get more organized with my meager plant collection. I used to have scores of plants but as other responsibilities took over, they languished and aged out of the system. My renewed interest happened with an apple!

The morning menu usually features an apple sliced and peeled. Imagine my surprise to find seeds inside the Pink Lady apple sprouted with tiny beginnings of leaves. I couldn't just throw them so I got my little sterile Petri dish fitted with a damp paper towel and set the tiny beings on my shelf. They really wouldn't grow, would they?

They did indeed and are under the plastic in the photo. And then.....

They grew and were moved to larger pots and now moved to the great outdoors. I have seven hearty seedlings and two little stragglers I haven't given up on yet. 

The fruit was developed in Australia and released for commercial production in 1989. Pink Lady® apple trees are a cross between Lady Williams and Golden Delicious, giving the fruit good storage characteristics and a sweet, crisp flavor. The Pink Lady Apple tree is characterized as a spur-bearing variety, producing fruit on short, compact branches known as spurs.

Not to count my apples before they are ripe! It will take 2 to 5 years for a Pink Lady to bear fruit. We have several other trees in our orchard so they will be in good company if they can make it that long. One other tree we were gifted this year has a fine start. It's already about 3 years old and is a new variety called "Triumph". Which I have chosen to call my TRUMP apple tree. 

The grow operation has now extended to the basement where I was able to start tomato seeds and assorted plants of honest reputation. 

Fiery Winter Sunset

 

Until recently this was the amount of snow we had. Now it's all white but it probably won't be for long. 

October through January was probably the busiest stretch of orders I've had in a long time. Relentless work over the holidays is the norm. It has been since my Studio Works days of retailing. I'm enjoying a welcomed break now. With luck it will last a long time!