She's Upright Here

This is the outside of my 1905 Knabe-Angelus. She is a plain simple piano with a clear window in the center to see the hammers. No fancy carvings here, almost an arts and crafts simplicity.

The original keys were replaced before we bought the piano.

It was well cared for with only slight piles of mouse hoarding under the hammers. This piano has not been in a flood nor outside as many do end up. There was soot from a wood stove on the inside of the casements. Someone took great care of the piano. If we did want to do a full restoration it would run about $10-$20K. But she is in tune and plays very well so for now we are happy. 

Quiet Hunting

This has been the first time that hunting season has been very quiet around here. It used to sound like a war zone. I guess since ammo is hard to find people are just not wasting it. 

She Rings True

I was able to get the name of a local piano tuner to come and tune my over 100 year old upright piano.

He came and worked on my piano for 4 hours. 

One string broke and had to be refitted again. 

By ear he was able to adjust the pins to get my piano back in tune. He removed parts of the piano to get to the strings. A bit dusty but this old piano was stored well and has aged beautifully.

We used our electric tuner as a visual aid for us to see what notes he was tuning to. He was dead on for all the notes. My old upright makes bright and loud notes again, no longer flat. Before he left he signed the low key hammer and dated it. So the next tuner will have the info. Unfortunately, our tuner's children had no interest in learning the tuning craft. It is a dying art just like playing music. At least here in the Missouri Ozarks, they still have music jam sessions.

Da Bunny

Here is Alan and Rose modeling the latest in bunny treats, a natural basket.

This basket is now nothing but a pile of twigs at the bottom of her cage. Rose loves to chew baskets.

Behold, the holy hand grenade.If you have ever owned a bunny, you know they are a lethal force to be not to be reckoned with. Such a cute thing with teeth as sharp as knives.

Osage Can you See..?

This is an Osage Orange tree or hedge apple tree.  It makes softball sized 2 pound green oranges you can't eat.We collected a truck load to plant as a natural hedge/fence. The tree is hedge size in 3 years and its thorny branches, create a natural barbwire fence. You do not want to stand under one of these trees. The green fruit can knock you out.

This is half way full truck load we collected to bring home. Some people put them in their house to keep spiders away. They do smell nice and have a great green color. But they have a sticky sap that oozes out of the fruit if cut or bruised.

Osage tree bark is very hard and inter woven looking. Very straight tree who's leaves turn yellow in the fall. The seeds we plant will not produce fruit for another 10 years. You must have a male and female tree to make viable seeds.Cows, deer and squirrels do enjoy eating these green fruits.

Culling Time

The chicks have all grown up and they are all roosters. I have roosters I raised, other peoples unwanted roosters and ordered "hens" that grew up into roosters. It is time to choose who lives a long life and who is dinner. First to go are the bad tempered ones, then the defective ones, ones that are too many of the same line.  I am only culling 5-6 and keeping 7! I have 2 that will be given away to a rooster collector.The rest of the lot include an Easter Egger, Cuckoo Maran, Bantams, Phoenix and my home grown breed. This leaves me with a great blend for next spring. Now I just need some new hens again. I usually hatch in August to have young hens for the fall. But I was too busy to do a hatch for me this year. After 4 hatches for other people; I was burnt out. My ducks are very fertile and have had no problem keeping their ranks full. But the ducks are pets and are not eaten.

Raising poultry has been rewarding in providing meat and eggs for us.

Egg Me No Longer

This is a photo of one of my many roosters. Egg production on my farm has nose dived over the last month. I thought it was molt, daylight or too many roosters. So I caged up the roosters, the molts are done and the chickens are in the sun. Still low egg count prevails. I improved the coop beds with straw and shavings and provided copious amounts of chow for the poultry, but the eggs are few and far between. It is not an egg thief as the wooden eggs are still in place. My girls are just not laying. I have old and  young hens of all shapes and sizes. They have clean water and all the oyster shell they want. I am at a loss for why all my hens are taking the fall off on their egg production. But on the bright side they have earned a rest. I have a broody duck with several eggs under her. And I had a hen hatch a single chick that she brooded on for over a month. Perhaps my hens are telling me to take a break and enjoy the fall into winter.

Rain Down on Me

I was sitting in my truck waiting for my husband.

 I noticed how pretty the trees looked on the wet windows.

The colors were very rich and vivid.

One of the joys of fall are the colors everywhere you look.

Squared Up

A few months ago it was suggested we have a church square dance. We participated in our church's first  square dance. It was a lot of fun.

Nothing fancy just us learning the steps along with our priest and a few experienced dancers.

The caller was Jim Ryan from our church. He calls and dances as well. We learned the 2 step and the waltz. I like the waltz best. We hope to do this again in December.

Ain't She Grand

This is my newest musical instrument to learn. I have always wanted to play piano again. So last week my husband and I went to an auction and this upright went for the right price and free delivery. I am it's 3rd owner and it's very good condition for its age. It has a wonderful sound. 

It used to have a player piano in it, but those parts were removed at some point of its life.

It weighs a ton. It took 4 people and several furniture gliders just to get it in the doorway and off the trailer. Now it sits waiting for its place in our house. And it has a wonderful sound for its age. Looking forward to learning all about the piano.

Fall Me Down

Poppy and Snots relax in the music room with the wood stove going. 

Nothing beats a wool rug with a wood fire burning in a wet cool fall day.

Fall 2013 in the Ozarks

Sugar maple in all its glory.

Silver maples turn to gold.

Ornamental grass and fall trees by our house.

Still green by the pond.

Sumac is in the red.

Zilla grows Up

Zilla and Alan get on with the deep doggie petting Zilla so enjoys. Zilla is almost 2 years old now. She will reach her full size at 3 years. We hope she gets as big as her parents are. Zilla gets about 6 cups a food a day plus the additional protein from the local abattoir. And all the skunks and armadillos she catches.

Zilla finally grew into those big ears she had as a pup.

My what big teeth you have!

Standard Shepherd, Osa on the left and then Zilla, the super sized Shepherd on the right. Both dogs love the free range pettings from Alan.