Cougar Morning

I walked from our house about 10 feet when I saw this large track in the damp frost lawn. This print was fresh as there was no frost inside the indents. I used an AAA battery to show the size of this print. It is 2 times the size of my shepherds paw. There were three more prints in the grass that I could make out. It looks like it was walking away from the house.

First Snow this Season

Winter came and showed up soft and sweet. We got home at dusk and the snow began to fall in fat clumps. I put up the ducks and chickens and the snow came down fast. It was a nice surprise after a gray and gloomy day. We rushed to get the screen off the front door and the glass put in. We watched the snow fall from behind the insulated glass. In the morning the snow was only in cold dark patches on the house and lawn. But there was enough for Osa to run and eat.

Toppy Rooster

This is a grand feisty rooster of a friend on her farm. I just adore his top and feisty attitude. Even without the headdress this rooster would still shine. I hope to get some of his chicks in the spring.

Peas Please

We brought my car in for repairs this week and got to meet the mascot of the auto shop.

They have a tortoise that runs around the shop office and has his own lamp and heated rock. He comes when called and only eats peas. This small guy has been their pet for years. And he gets walks outside on a leash too.

Rules of Occupy Wall Street

Here are the rules and guidelines for the police against the Occupy Wall Street protesters; as given by the corporate machine. You can also find the same rules used by the Nazi or the Kent State National Guard; see your history book app.

Just remember, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Rule 1. Tell the riot police the protesters are just spoiled bored rich kids, that will make the pepper spraying more "just". Having laptops proves this!

Rule 2. Use the Def- Tec MK-9 pepper spray by BAE Systems at 3' instead of the 13' recommended by the United Nations. Will be sure to keep those grannies & grizzlies down.

Rule 3. Send out your most corrupt cops from the district, they hate people anyway and this gets out their aggression - cheaper than therapy.

Rule 4. After the protesters are blind and unconscious from the spraying, round them all up at a homeless shelter; proceed with more spraying of civilians. Getting a reporter is worth double donuts back at the station. Throw away their press passes and cameras.

Rule 5. Put everyone on bus or available nearby truck for 6-8 hours, go home for the day.

Rule 6. Send the people to the most corrupt in the pocket judge you have. So many choices so little time, bring more donuts for the judges.

Rule 7. Take all the personal items collected from the protesters. Damage all electronics, keep the cash,break the tent and bikes and sell the rest. See your Nazi guidelines for this. Throw their stuff into big piles under a bridge; they are rich can get new stuff for the next protest.

Yes, this is a satirical play on the cold facts of what is happening to our American citizens on our home soil. Right now our legal system and our police are hurting Americans and taking away our rights to stand up against tyranny of Corporate Owned American Government and banks. Right now we are not getting due process and we are being silenced and beaten. Veterans, reporters, soldiers, grandparents, students, parents, are all being, hurt, robbed and degraded on TV and the newspapers everyday.

So this Thanksgiving when we gather around the table beaten and broken lets give thanks to our police, judges, CEO's, banks and government all for taking away our right to protest.

Lets all give thanks for the American way of life. Lets all stick our heads up the turkey and pass the pepper spray.

Fall into Winter

These are some mums blooming in my front flower beds.

Aluminum Skies

Ah yes, this weekend rain is predicted. Therefore the planes must fly high above and dump their chemicals into my atmosphere. Monsanto hopes to spread aluminum all over the farm lands of the world seeding the soil and water for their aluminum tolerant GMO seeds. They do this right before rain is predicted in an area so the aluminum can fall into the soil along with rain. No point doing this on a clear day, might blow the stuff around someplace else! Might be a waste of say, money? No matter, our government is paying the bill to fly these unregistered false numbered military planes all over the world to make Monsanto happy. Because if Monsanto ain't happy then Arthur Andersen LLP is not doing its job. Or Accenture, or Andersen Worldwide, or whatever happy "A" related moniker you want to give them. You know you have arrived as an evil company when you have Gates Foundation, Authur Andersen and our military working overtime to please your company.

So this Christmas I am saving money not buying tinsel for my tree. I am just going to put my tree outside before storms come and let the aluminum fall onto its branches. Voila! Instant metal tree with all the toxic trimmings. Thanks Monsato, keep up the good work and don't forget collect my 15 cent tax on my tree, too. Wouldn't want you to lose a few rusty nickels.

Coco Warmer

In the cold mornings Coco seeks what all cats seek, a warm computer to snooze on.

Horse Bale Holder

Last year we bought a PVC bale holder for our horses. The problem was that it was for cattle and not made for horses. Our gang rubbed their manes off trying to get to the hay. So we bought a skirted red metal tombstone bale feeder for horses. The feeder has loops over the sides to keep their necks free. Now they can't pull out and waste the hay nor rub their manes. We hope this makes the hay last a bit longer, too.

Bale Spike

When you get round bales delivered on the farm, you have to have a way to get them off the truck. For this you need a front end bale spike to lift the high one ton bale and move it. You can't do that with a 3 point spike in the back of the tractor. Our tractor is only equipped with the rear spike. So we went and bought a quick connect front end spike. This fits on our neighbors tractor.

We tested it on some bales we already had before the bale delivery. It worked and we were all set to get bales moved fro high places. Eventually, we are going to turn our tractor into a quick connect on the front. But for now we just swap tractors with our neighbors as needed.

Winter Bales

We were needing several more bales of hay for our horses this winter. We called around and most hay farmers had sold their hay to Texas or other states. By word of mouth we found a farmer willing to sell us some hay since we were locals and not out of state hay merchants. He let us inspect the pastures and the bales before and after delivery. He also gave my husband instructions on how to safely remove round bales from his truck trailer. And how to avoid dropping a one ton bale over our neighbors borrowed tractor cab. While the bales got unloaded I got to know the farmer. He is very aware of current events, politics and farmer vs. conservationist laws. He is involved in both hunter and farmer groups as both are part of living off the land in Missouri. I could have talked all day long to this farmer. But the sun was setting and the bales had to be moved into storage. Maybe next season I will get to visit with him again.

Nativity Restoration

I bought these vintage nativity figures from our church rummage sale last week. They are richly painted but in bad shape. They were stored in newsprint in an attic and the plaster was cracking. I am applying new plaster and paint matching patches on each figure. But the time is worth it as they are quite nice quality. This is the first nativity I have ever had that is a complete set.

She's Empty

We had concern that our grey mare was pregnant. She never displayed mare heat symptoms and was very bossy. She was accidentally exposed to a stallion while at a trainers stable in January. But our vet confirmed she is not pregnant, just has hay belly. Luna did not enjoy all this attention and wanted to get back to her round bale. We are relieved she is not pregnant. We have our hands full with the 4 we have now. The good news is we found a local trainer for our babies for next year. They both will be green broke under saddle as trail horses next summer. Going to be a lot of riding this summer.