Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Keeping busy

Our cousins from Des Moines were over this past weekend, and we kept busy in the kitchen, as well as fit in time to fix a water leak at the rental and problems with the well over there as well. We also managed to fit in some time for knitting and Guitar Hero. There is just never enough time in the day . . .

Here is A's secret blend of spices and good things he used to make his tasty smoked venison sausage. Mmmm, it turned out good!



And here are some of the links drying on the rack before being hung in the smoker:


Then, on Monday we awoke to this crazy pheasant in the neighbors' yard; he spent nearly an hour wandering up and down the fenceline before A went out to get a closer shot of him, then he flew up and away.



Then yesterday, E1 was home sick with a fever. We were in the kitchen and saw a commotion in the front yard. I think this is a broad-winged hawk, that's the best guess I have anyway. Felt kind of bad for the dove, but I figured the hawk needs to eat too. The impressive part was that the dove was nearly the size of the hawk, and yet when I got too close for comfort, the hawk was able to pick that dove up and fly away with it!




Tuesday, April 22, 2008

movie I'd like to see

Those who really know me won't be shocked by this, but I really want to see the Ben Stein movie that just came out: Expelled

Usually around here there is little time for movies, but this one looks really compelling. The only other things I've been watching lately are the Jane Austen movies on Public Television that I've DVR'd.

I'm late for milking, but I wanted to get that in for the day. I just watched the trailers online for Expelled and they are funny and intriguing.

I also wanted to say that the barn swallows and the house wrens are back. It is truly spring now. The barn swallows are favorites of mine. The house wrens are nice, but are aggressive little buggers. Yesterday was the first that I have seen of the swallows, and this morning I hear a wren singing.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Earthquake

Well, I have to give my account of this morning's earthquake. I figure if Bonnie Lucas on 1040 WHO from Des Moines is able to give a creditable account, so can I.

The epicenter was 240 miles south of Chicago, near West Salem IL. So we are closer to this location than Des Moines is. It was in the range of 5.2 - 5.4.

I awoke to hear Eddie, the pet parakeet, flapping frantically around his cage just shortly after 4:40 our time this morning. Then it sounded like something was running across the roof, or rolling across it. I got Eddie settled back down and went back to bed. Then this morning I read of the earthquake, and it all made sense. It was a relief to realize that there weren't huge raccoons or possums or Heaven knows what else chasing each other across our rooftops!

I wonder what the barn dwellers thought. I wonder how my friends farther south fared, or what my brother and his wife in Chicago experienced. Earthquakes in the Midwest are so rare . . .

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

It will rain tomorrow, but


We've had two whole days of dry roads! The photo above was from the last round of thunderstorms we had last week; there were even tornado warnings for closeby communities, but we just got a bit of rain and wind. Doesn't sound like there was much damage where funnel clouds were reported either. I just wonder - I never remember this many tornadoes when I was younger growing up in the area. I think maybe there are more sensitive technologies available to detect and track these storms.

I'm feeling blue like the reflection in the road today. No particular reason, I guess. There's plenty to be thankful for, just have the blahs. It was in the mid 70's today at Amon Eruanna, but the wind was terrible. Wind just grates on my nerves! Gentle breezes are tolerable, but this was constant strong wind, rattling everything!

My mom went back to work yesterday, just over a month after having her hip replaced. Isn't that amazing! Proves the power of prayer, something that is proven time and again I know, but its just cool when its reaffirmed in a so tangible and obvious way. She has healed up with no complications, and is moving around better than I've seen in a couple of years.

We now have two milk stands running in the milking parlor, and have cut chore time down considerably. The does like it because they get their udders empties and bellies filled without having to wait as long.

Switchfoot is playing in a nearby city tonight; as nearby as any of my favorite bands have ever come, and we can't go. Maybe that explains my blues. I had the chance to see them in a city a bit farther away this past fall, with my pal Roxanne, and they put on such a good show, and they have the best rapport with the audience as I have ever seen at an event like that. They were touring with Relient K and Ruth, all good, good music. Hopefully they will visit a town near Amon Eruanna again soon.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

winter melt, spring sprung

This past Sunday we took a family trip to Galena, IL. One of our favorite places in the whole world is Abe's Spring Street Guest House. We wanted to stop in and say hi to Sandy and Charles, and to show the 4E's where A and I went for our honeymoon. They had a cool marionette exhibit in the Stone House Gallery, and of course we couldn't visit without purchasing some mugs that Charles had crafted.

What better place to encounter spring than on Spring Street? Above is a neat, melty snow tunnel. Below, a melty pumpkin. I wonder if seeds from the pumpkin will wiggle out and leap off, and if Charles will then have a pumpkin plant there this summer, winding its way around the stone bench?
A and I had a great time with the 4E's, and after the visit to the Stone House, a peek in the window of the Annex, we went downtown in search of some lunch. A tasty lunch was had, as well as a trip through a few favorite shops and the candy store.

I'll leave you with milkweed and crocus:

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Never a dull moment

Goats are smart animals. But are they this smart? DH was heading up to the barn for milking when he called me on the walkie talkie. Mabel the goose is sitting on Sissy's back, he said. Sure enough, I looked out the living room window and there it was.

Look at this picture! Does it not seem that Ginger and Erika are having a good laugh? Doesn't it seem like Baby is coaching the goose? Doesn't it appear that Sissy is fighting to keep a straight face? One could almost believe they were trying to set us up, to mess with us.

The two-legged kids like to watch a show on Nickelodeon called 'Back at the Barnyard,' where the animals act like teenage people when the farmer or other humans aren't looking. I don't like it because they give the male 'cows' functional udders, and that's just wrong. But the antics of our herd sure make you give it a second thought . . .



Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Ducky


In addition to the hooded mergansers, I've discovered another duck on our pond. Its a ring-necked duck and I did get a photo of it. Also, I've decided that I need a faster zoom lens. But it let me crack off a couple shots before it and the mergansers took off. I crept up on it from the island and had to shoot through the reeds and the willows. I think with time, sun, and no help from the children I could get a little better quality pictures.

We hiked to the timber and found a couple of antler sheds, and a few more signs of spring.

And here's another view of Amon Eruanna: