Animals in the news, Becky and the fire, relationships

Victoria and Grandpa seem to be enjoying working together on the farm. She called several times yesterday to ask directions and to update me on several issues. One of which was the traps we had set out. It turns out that the larger trap actually did catch a predator; Droopy, the hound Grandma has adopted. He did not technically get caught; he only robbed the trap of the bait we had set in it. He is too large to be caught in it. Victoria saw him sneak off to eat the chicken head we had set for bait. Feeding Droopy was not the intent of the trap so we will have to set it more carefully in the future.


I was also informed that we will be getting the three burros we were promised last year. Evidently they and the cattle they were with went “walk about” on several hundred acres and have just recently been located and contained. Grandpa is going to set them in the feed lot we have set up. This will allow him to get to know them and vice versa. We can access which ones we will adopt and which we will get rid of. We are planning on having only pets on this farm and any difficult animal will be eaten or sold; whichever is appropriate.

The same individual has some 80# pigs for sale. Grandpa is going to buy at least two. Good thing we are thinning our flock of chickens so we can afford the hog feed. These particular pigs are young purebred Durocs; they are a beautiful russet color, which is neither here nor there because pork tastes like pork. We saw them several months ago just after they were born. There are also some Hampshire piglets to be gotten later but the Dorocs are to be raised to butcher. We will buy a Hamp sow in the spring so Mama can raise some little ones.

We have held off getting pigs until we can protest them from coyotes and roaming dog packs. It looks like now may be the time. Grandpa and Victoria will have to hurry to finish out the hog building and put the last runs of barbed wire above the hog panels to secure the building and small lot, but for the most part, it is ready. Delivery will be some time this week.

Last night I called a man in Bowie who has a dairy. We drove by it several times last Saturday and noticed several newly born Jersey calves. He told me last night that he has been keeping all the calves for his herd but he has ten more cows ready to drop calves in the next several weeks and he may sell them. The only problem is that Grandpa does not want to pay $85-100 per calf. He wants to stay around $50. We had a chance to buy ten calves at $45 each last Saturday but we had to pass due to time constraints and the lack of protection for them on the farm. That problem will be solved this week.

Becky called me several times on Sunday to talk to me about a large fire that was burning a building only a block from their house. They were in no immediate danger of losing the house but it was filling with smoke and she wanted to know what to do. When I suggested they take their doggie and leave she balked citing Charles’ rotten attitude over having to deal with the problem in the first place. Oh, well. By last night all was well. She mentioned another drama concerning their tenant harboring a runaway, but I kept clear of any details. She has a knack for involvement in interesting situations.

She is studying to become an EMT and I have the feeling she will do quite well at that should she get through the program. She is a little on the petite side for some of the lifting and carrying that may be required in the performance of some EMT duties, but she is pretty intuitive when it comes to rendering aid and since EMT rendered assistance is limited to external applications – no intubations or starting IV’s – she should be a great candidate. It is not a high paying job, but the craft can offer a full time job with good benefits. Time will tell.

Cori and Nate are already having to struggle through troubled relationships with their two oldest. Mykenzie’s heart was broken when Stewart “snatched” – her words – her balloon from her at a recent birthday party. In the ensuing tussle it drifted to the ceiling of the gym, far out of reach: the replacement balloon was poor consolation for the wounding. Boys can be such a pain. Case in point; Grant, having been refused a hug from his targeted amore, simply knocked her to the floor. (Seems reasonable in a caveman-like way.)

To date, Blake still likes his mommy better than any other female; however, the teenage years of their children could be quite a struggle for this young couple.