Deer Cam photos

It's hunting season.  Our neighbors, River View Farms, is an 832 acre hunting club.  The members of River View Farms have become good friends over the past 8 years.  We sure lucked out buying property next to them.

Our neighbors to the west are also hunting properties.  So, our little 42 acres is surrounded on 3 sides by hunting property.  Which is nice because that means we actually live surrounded by over 1300 acres of forest.  Nice!

Anyway, one of the ways hunters know what location is best for finding game is by using a game camera.  These cameras are strapped to a tree, and are triggered by movement.  They take color photos during daylight and black/white photos after dark.  We've gotten some very interesting pictures on our cameras in the past few weeks.

"Big Buck" white tail deer

John was hoping to get this big guy, but our friend Joe Barnett of River View Farms got him instead.  That's ok though.  There's plenty more out there.

Here's who came to visit the camera yesterday.

Doe white tail deer

But here was the real surprise!

Bobcat

 

Do you see the bobcat, center frame?  Notice that's at 3:04 in the afternoon. 

Who else have we seen in the past (not our actual photos, since we didn't save past years images)?

Red fox

Grey fox

Skunk

Racoon

Veteran's day

We're well into Fall now here in the Ozarks.  The leaves are turning and falling down in great piles.  Hickory nuts, walnuts and acorns litter the ground.  With all the trees in our yard, walking is a bit hazardous!  Those hickory nuts just roll under your feet!  I've come close to falling on my kister several times...  The dogs think it's pretty funny!

Today is Veteran's Day.  It always seems like a sad day, to me.  Memorializing all those dead... And there are a lot of dead military people to remember.  And many living.  Being a Veteran, and having been raised in a military family,  I'm very aware of the sacrifice many have paid to our country.

When I was a young child, my father took me to a memorial in Wilkes-Barre, PA.  It names each person who died in the Wyoming Massacre.  One of those people was my ancestor Elisha Richards.  Wow!  I have a Revolutionary War ancestor.  Very cool.

My grandmother, Virginia Wyans Cragle is a descendant of Elisha.  She passed away in an automobile accident when my dad was 3.  So I never had a chance to meet her.  But I met her brother Paul, who ran a little museum in his house.  Again, very cool.  I always enjoyed going to visit him.

Family history has it that the Cragle family are descendants of a Hessian who served King George and was surprised when Washington et all crossed the Delaware.  Since that was a disgrace for the Hessian's, they remained in Pennsylvania.  This same history was found in a book my younger sister found while doing a report in high-school.  I haven't read that particular book, so I'm not sure of the title.  I guess some research with the Osterhout Library in Wilkes-Barre would reveal it though.  Ousterhout Free Library

I also grew up knowing that one of my Cragle ancestors served in the Civil War.  And one in WWI.  Several of my uncles served in WWII.  My father served in Korea, Viet Nam (3 times), and was in Guantanamo Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I have several other family members who served in Viet Nam.  I was in the Navy during Desert Storm.  I wasn't deployed, but many of my coworkers were.  Our friends Kevin Stout and Jim Saxe were.  And, we have several friends' children and 1 cousin who are still in the military and serving in the Middle East.

When I started working on my family tree through Ancestry.com, I discovered I have wartime ancestors on all sides of my family, in all our wars.  From the French and Indian war, up to the current conflicts.  We're a military family.  That's just how it's done. 

I've been to Gettysburg 3 times.  Every time I'm there it wigs me out.  I guess I've seen too many of those pictures with the dead horses and dead men lying everywhere.  Knowing that creek was so full of blood it clotted!  And when I went there, I could see it very clearly.  Back to the bus for me!  I could do without THAT image being burnt into my brain.

I know a lot of people don't understand American History.  They don't understand the conflicts our military have been involved in.  Or what it's like to be in the military.  I found that Naval service had some benefits, and some drawbacks.  I learned a lot.  I met a lot of good people.  And some not so good.  I was able to go to college on the GI bill.  I was able to buy my first home with a VA guaranteed loan.  I met my first husband, Curtis Brown, while I was stationed in Newport, RI.  He was also from a military family.  We were married for 25 years.

But, Veteran's day always makes me sad.  So many dead people.  All those war movies on TV.  Most of them glorify war.  Watch Saving Private Ryan or Bat 21, or watch this Youtube video listing the top 5 recent war movies to see what war is really like.  Best Modern War Movies.  Personally, I can't watch Black Hawk Down.  It's too real.

A cool, foggy morning

I guess Fall is fully here.  It was 39 this morning and foggy.

Our garden looks pretty sad.  Tired.  Done.  Although the Jerusalem articokes on the right in this picture are still standing proud.  Not everything is completely done.  Our small orange bell peppers and the nasturtiums are still growing and producing.

My husband laughed at me and said "it looks like the plastic faerie has been here again"... because I put the plastic over the chicken cages.  But I knew it was going to get cold.  So, I got them covered up.

The new puppy, Cricket is really growing.  She's taller than Peanut now.  Of course, being a shorty Jack Russell standing 11 inches high, this isn't really much of an accomplishment. But, I hope Cricket doesn't get MUCH bigger.  Her mom was about knee high and dad is unknown.  So I guess she'll be whatever size she is!

So, for some entertainment this morning... I made a short video of inside my chicken house.  Not very exciting for people who don't live on a farm... but I enjoy my chickens.  I hope you do too.

Some thoughts on the "government" shutdown....

For those of you who may not know this, Johnnie and I both receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI).  We each had to go through the process of proving we are disabled and unable to work.  During our working years, part of our income was diverted and accumulated by our Federal Government, in order to ensure we had saved some money for our future retirement.   I receive my SSDI on the 4th Wednesday each month, directly into my saving account.  The deposit totals $1023 dollars per month.  John receives a bit more into our checking account on the 3rd of each month.  That's our total taxable income each month.

I'm also a service-connected, disabled veteran.  After many forms, hearings, appeals and frustration, I was granted 100% service-connection in December of 2004.  As a married veteran with a spouse, my monthly income is $2973. This is non-taxable income. This includes complete medical care, if I go to the local VA medical center for my care.  I do go to the VA for my yearly pap exam, but I don't go for my neurological care.  I'd have to travel to Saint Louis to receive that care, and that's just too far to go.

We are both on Medicare.  This is provided through Arkansas Blue Cross, and the premium of our coverage is taken from our SSDI directly by Blue Cross each month (before we receive our deposit each month).  When we each became "eligible" for SSDI, we became "eligible" for Medicare.  And we each had to pick our "provider".  So, like everyone else who has medical insurance there are co-payments, eligibility forms, in network providers.  It's all very confusing. 

Our son Joshua moved here to Arkansas to be with us and help us out.  We are two older people, with chronic health problems.  Josh decided to do this, and we really appreciate it!

So, we made sure that Josh has health insurance too.  And we got him coverage with Arkansas Blue Cross.  We pay for this health insurance each month, and we're glad he hasn't had any health issues that required medical care.  He's a health young man. 

Because our government wants to make sure we all have the insurance we need, we are also required to have automobile insurance.  This is required in order to register your car.  We have our car insurance with Nationwide.

And, if you buy a home and need a loan in order to make that purchase; you most likely were required to secure home owners insurance.  Our home owner's insurance is with Shelter Insurance.  Shelter is the only company that will ensure a log home (at least in our area).

So when I look at our monthly budget, the largest expense we have IS INSURANCE!

Almost $800 dollars a month of our income (not counting the Medicare taken directly from our SSDI)!  And that's $800 dollars we are required by our government to spend.  And who knows how much this will increase with the new "Health Insurance" plan that our dear leaders are forcing upon us.

One of our friends is impacted by the current government shutdown. His job has been deemed as "non-essential". He has been forced to NOT work, and will have NO income until our elected officials can stop arguing like children and figure out how to overspend our tax money. 

Does our government care that people can't afford to spend so much money on insurance?  Do they care that people can't afford to NOT WORK?  And if this shut down continues, when will MY family have NO INCOME because some one else will not be allowed to do their job?  When will Social Security and VA benefits become "non-essential"?

This whole situation disgusts me!  I have to live on a fixed income.  Granted, my income isn't low.  I admit that.  But it is fixed.  I have to have a balanced monthly and yearly budget.  Our government should also.  As a society, we can't continue to spend money we don't have.  Otherwise, none of us will have a future.  No job, no income, no future.

That is a very bleak vision.  Sadly, I think it's correct.

Darn, more water woes!

Monday afternoon (September 16th), I was taking a walk around the house with the dogs when I noticed that the bottom of the pump house looked muddy.  So, I walked over and investigated.  Crap!  A big mud puddle!

So, first thing yesterday morning John and Josh went out to start the next round of repairs.  This of course meant we had no water all day.  Not really a problem for us, because we keep about 40 gallons of distilled water on hand at all times.  And I can always flush a toilet with water from our "pond" water tank.  We also have a Big Berky water filter that's full at all times.  I've written about water storage in a previous post.

A big muddy mess.

So, Josh started digging.  First, they had to completely remove the pump house.  Then Josh started digging.  Yucky work, for sure!

Starting to dig.

Digging on hands & knees is no fun!

See the exposed pipe?  That had to be reattached.

After he finally dug down to the pipes, he had to find what the problem was.  And it looks like the "patch" done last time the pipes were leaking had failed.  Crap!
 
So, we made a trip to the hardware store in Highland.   B & B Supply.  They had what we needed.  Some clamps, some pipe and some Rain or Shine pipe cement.  Josh used to work at Lowes in Ellijay, GA so he knew exactly what to look for. 

After another hour or so, he got the pipe connected back together.  The water works!  Hurray!

Of course, you know they had to have puppy dog supervision for this dirty task.

Peanut and Cricket

Doggy supervisors

Thankfully, it was only 85 yesterday and not 100! 

John set out a live trap last night and there was that armadillo in there this morning.  He won't be digging under our pump house any more!  Peanut was excited about t varmit removal.  Cricket didn't want anything to do with that stinky weird looking thing.  She decided the front porch dog house was a safe place to be.

A beautiful fall morning

I know it's not "technically" Autumn.  Not until next Friday, but this morning was very fall-like.  It was 52F when I got up this morning.  I had to put a sweater on to talk the dogs for their morning walk.

I like the crispness of fall.  I like the way the air feels and the sound of crunchy leaves under my feet.

John and Joshua got busy with the tractor this morning and finally got a chance to move some of the sections of the tree we had removed back in July.  Some of it can be used for lumber, the rest will be firewood.  Here a quick picture I took from the kitchen window.  John was talking to Josh about using the different levers (I think)...  not really sure because I wasn't close enough to hear the conversation.

Meanwhile, I was pulling grass and weeds out of the front walkway.  The dogs were hanging out near by.    Here's the link to the video.
Peanut and Cricket playing

Yesterday, our friend Michelle Friend came over to spend the day.  We spent about an hour and each painted a silk scarf.  Here's how mine came out.

Silk scarf painted with Setasilk paint

I got the scarves and paint from Dharma Trading Company.  They have wonderful products!  Dharma Trading Company sundyeing kit .

On the first weekend of October we'll be participating in the Hardy Homesteader's Day at Loberg Park in Hardy, AR.  Our friends Gena Stout, Jerry Friend and Michelle Friend will be in our display with us.  We'll be spinning, weaving and talking with the public.  We dress in period clothes.  Here's a picture or two from last year.

Gena Stout weaving on a triangular loom.  The shawl she has on was woven the previous year.

Josh and John get the spinning wheels set up.

Getting a new puppy

Last Friday, I saw an ad of Facebook for free puppies in our area.  After a bit of phone tag and texting I finally arranged to go look at the little critters.

When I got there, I was met by the gentleman and the mama dog.  She seemed friendly enough.  The man was very nice, let me look at all the puppies.  I got them out of the kennel and looked them over.  One puppy in particular struck me.  Rather small compared to the others and much thinner.  She came right to me & didn't whimper or squeal when I picked her up.  I took her home.

She didn't have a good ride in the car.  She howled.  She cried.  She threw up all over.

And then she had diarrhea.  And vomited some more.  John was very upset with me for bringing home a puppy in such a sad state.  I stayed up all night with her.  She had to go outside every 45 minutes or so!  Oh the poor little thing!

I took her to the vet first thing on Saturday morning.  We take our pets to Shaw Veterinary Clinic in Highland, AR.  Their great.  They've been in business for 30 year.  They've provided care to both Rusty and Peanut these past 7 years.  When Peanut was bitten by the snake earlier this year, we took her there.  We've boarded our pets there.  Very nice.    Shaw Vet Clinic

I had to give them a name to open a new file.  Earlier that morning, I'd been trying to get the pup to come to me by calling her with different names.  The only name she responded to was Cricket.  So, Cricket it is.

Doctor Roger looked the puppy over and said she'd need to stay for the morning.  She had worms (tests would be done to see which kind) and ringworms.  He'd also test her for parvo and get her all cleaned up.

Josh and I went  back at 11:45 to pick her up.  She was all ready.  It turns out she had 3 different kinds of worms (round, hook and tapeworms!), some intestinal parasite which we got medication for, and ringworms (actually a fungus).  No wonder the poor little thing was so thin!  No parvo, thank goodness. 

We brought her home.  She slept most of that day, and wouldn't eat.  But by Sunday morning she'd passed all those worms and was looking for some food.  Man, was she hungry!

After recuperating these past few days, she's really turning out to be a very nice puppy.  Playful, smart and friendly.  And I'm sure she'll have accidents, but she already knows to go to the door to go outside!  She's only 8 weeks old!  WOW!

Here's a picture of our new little cutie.  I'm smitten!

Guess who wants all the toys....