Not For The Squeamish or Animals Rights Activists...

For those of you who have farm animals you know farm dogs are an intregral and essential part of the operation.  We have a fine team of farm dogs quite a mix in fact.  We have two Border Collies and four mixes that each have their own talent and work together as a team.

Lil our short-haired Border Collie is the jump in and finish it lady.  TP is the alerter, Ki and Junior are the finders and seekers, Maggie our other Border is the all around dog.  Lil, Maggie and Squiggie herd, kill snakes and varmits.  The young ones are learning.

 The three little ones are after a mole here.  They keep the yard and garden free of them.

TP treed this bad boy

 in the corner of the chicken house.

Lil took him out and shook...

and really took him out!

The Hot Peppers learn by watching...

and Lil says, You ain't getting my 'possum!

Good Farm Dogs!!!!!



A Dog Adventure...Warning! Big Hairy Spider Involved

It's that time of year...

tarantula time.

Ki-Anne was barking her head off!

The discovery was almost more excitement

than fifteen-year-old Andrew could handle.

Can you see the enthusiasm?

Jake was a little more interested.

The dogs were extremely interested.

Ki invited others to join her in the great spider hunt.

Without thinking and with much regret,

I became an accomplice to tarantula homicide.

Ki and Lil went into action.  Note poor spider in lower right.

The gang joined in.

There were many firsts tonight...

I've never seen a tarantula on a power pole.

I've never purposely caused one's death.

I've never seen a dog attack one,

but Ki, unfortunately, is a very unique dog.

No hesitation,

she waded in.

The smell of one usually repels a dog,

but not my Ki.

Now, I am feeling totally guilty.

I have asked the spider's forgiveness.

I'm not sure I can forgive myself.

My Sunday Walk...

 It has been a while since I walked and explored. The morning was cool and perfect for just recentering and remembering what's important. Strolling to reconnect with nature, leaving all the stress behind and having nothing but enjoyment on my mind

I headed down the creek,

and saw this debris from the last flood, long ago.

The beauty in the small things was total pleasure.

The water is low from the drought.

The remains from the tornado, beginning to decay,

were an obstacle course for the dogs.

I continued to my favorite place,

Rock Hollow.

Saw poison oak and ferns, growly abundantly.

After a nice climb with only one stumble,

 a few briar scratches and seed ticks,

I am centered, relaxed and sweating.

We climb Turtle Ridge

and head back down the mountain.

Arriving at the crossing, we enjoy the water as the dogs cooled and relaxed.  It was just me and the dogs but I didn't feel alone in my adventure.  I felt Dad was there every step of the way.

My Monday Walk...

Had to have one, I was in dire need of a  farm walk.  I am mourning the loss of my fridge by my own hands and am not happy with an ice chest.  After a rain, yes, I said RAIN, I decided to walk as soon as I came home today.  Donned some farm clothes and my rubber boots, camera in pocket.

The sky over the farm after the rain

We found wild flowers

and rocks, where I fell.

Nothing broken but had to sit a while.

I said, ooooh, owww, but no bad words.

Coming back up, I slipped.

My forearm and knee got the brunt of it.

Small price to pay to walk in such beauty.

I found a treasure

and Lil found a stick.

Just to let you know how much I was enjoying the cool air and the beauty around me, zoom in to the bottom of this small water fall and see what nestled there for me...a water moccasin.  I was close.  I walked past and looked back and saw it.  Did I remember the camera?  No!!!  I sicced the dogs and Lil grabbed it out, got one good shake in and Squiggie took it from her and shook it in half.   Good dogs!!!!  That's their job.

I decided it was time to end my walk and head back to the safety of home.  Solid floors here and no snakes!

Watch Out, Pat! A Marcy Adventure...

 WARNING FOR PAT!  


Marcy heard Squiggie barking as she was bringing mail to my house.  Knowing the bark, Marcy detoured to check.  This what is she found in my rock garden.

These are not National Geographic pictures,

but imagine finding this,

trying to decide how to kill it

while taking pictures!

She did all this for you!

Marcy said,  I have pictures for your blog!

She had to kill it with a square shovel,

in between rocks.

Not an easy job!

Lil was not around at the moment,

and she's the snake killer,

every one else is learning.

Marcy...one. 

Snake...zero!

The dogs were very proud of their warning system.

Squiggie on the far left was the discoverer.

Ki-Anne got bitten

and looks like she has a waddle

instead of a neck.

She will be fine and has learned a valuable lesson.

Lil finally showed up,

gave the snake a death shake

and was satisfied with Marcy's work.

Thanks, Marcy, for killing the snake in my yard

and for the great photos!

Finally Arranged Two Days Off...

It took much planning...on someone else's part.  We have one helper who "floats" and we use her when we can.  I called by chance to see if she had any days empty.  June 2st and 22nd then June 27th and 28th, those are the only days til middle of August!  I said, I will take them all and did not stutter one bit!

I spent Tuesday from 7AM to 11:47PM on the computer, off and on, with IT Support.  Computer died again. After the one man had cleared it, I had no protection so three days later, I got infected again.  Had no Trojans (in some cases, this would be bad, but not in this one) but 31 Mal ware infected parts!!!  My speakers had even deserted me.

I talked to Brian, Stephanie, Jason, Michael and Christopher...and many I did not write down.  Each did their own thing but no one made my computer whole again.  At ten thirty, I said, okay I am not quiting, I've wasted my whole day, I am calling one more time.  That is when I met Pedro and shall forever be grateful to this young gentleman.  He discovered my computer was locking up because of the new virus protector my Internet provider installed, convinced the computer my speakers were really there, and installed a free, yes, a FREE virus protection.

All this was done remotely.  I have seen places in my computer I never knew existed.  I have watched computer magic as it happened.  I was amazed, mad, cranky, tired, but in the end, completely satisfied...and Pedro did it!

For Pat, who insists she is tired of my snake pictures...Here is tractor and some dogs.  If you don't know Pat, stop by to visit, she is a breath of fresh air!

Sunday Adventure and Canine Training

A King Snake was discovered...

Ki-Anne announced to the world, I found a snake.

Squiggie wasn't sure, at first, what to do.

It was a beauty.

Every time the dogs would run in,

the snake would strike.

Good practice for them to avoid the poison snakes

and to tell the difference.

(They can tell by the smell)

I poked the snake, gently, with a stick

and he crawled, quickly, to safety.

I said,  Good dogs!!

I Never Dress...

and I should know better!!  Marcy always has her camera...and she caught me on the rock hunt in my fashionable night gown and my camo rubber boots.

Three years ago, I would not publish any pictures of me, now, I show you my favorite purple night gown!

 Scoping out the rocks I want as hubby drives...he still can't lift from his heart surgery but doc said he could drive so he drives the mule, the tractor, the lawnmower and the truck.  Stubborn!

 Finding the perfect rock is an adventure.  I have an area in the yard that needs steps and I am working on building them with rocks.

On a farm, you can never just do one thing...had to clean the culvert and I had lots of canine helpers.  Hoping the rains slow and the bad weather stays clear...I can't keep up with the repairs!

To Kill A Snake

takes every one.

The gang works together.

This is a needed service by our farm dogs.

Copperheads and Cotton Mouths are poisonous.

Black snakes eat the chicken eggs.

If the snake is not a threat, the dogs are called back.

The inspectors show up,

approving the job

takes every one.

Good dogs!!

Good horses!