Saturday, March 28, 2009

Farm Notes

Marigold, the Jersey heifer, is an aunt! Karen emailed from Yellow Branch to say that Silverbell, Marigold's half-sister (same mother, different AI sires) gave birth to Forsythia (seen above at about four hours old) back on Wednesday.



Another sign of Spring --unknown bugs appear --this one on my kitchen window sill. Time to think about putting the window screens back in. (Does anyone know what this creature is? I think he's rather elegant.)

Kate the donkey with her herd. Justin told me that the other day there were six wild turkeys in the field with the cows -- three toms strutting and showing off for three hens -- and Kate took exception to their carrying on and ran them off. ("Get out of here, you turkeys;" one imagines her braying, "this here's cow country!")

And yet another sign of warmer weather! The first snake is out relaxing by the fishpool! (I feel like someone in a Charles Addams cartoon saying that.)



Happy Saturday!
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7 comments:

Auntie Knickers said...

I wonder if it's lucky for the snake that the birds are made of metal?

lmkaczmarek said...

Hi, Vicki

Well, enjoy all that luscious spring weather -- I've decided that a Wisconsin spring is a figment of my imagination. We're expecting 4.8" of snow here tonight! I feel it will never end...

Lynn

Vicki Lane said...

Auntie K - A real heron would undoubtedly consider that little fella a tasty morsel. Though we've seen herons down at our big pond, they've never stopped by the little fish pool -- probably too near the house and the dogs. So the snakes proliferate -- I think we counted fourteen sunning themselves one time. But the goldfish are eager breeders so the snakes are needed to keep the little pool from getting too overcrowded.

Hey, Lynn -- When I think that we once considered moving to upstate NY or even to Canada, I shiver and count my blessings.

Hang in there, girl!

Victoria said...

Silverbelle and Forsythia are so beautiful. And the donkey (please forgive me, I've forgotten her name) reminds me of one of my uncles. He had pretty much the same reaction when a sheep rancher bought the land next to his cattle ranch. :-D

Anonymous said...

I'm new to the blog world, but the bug caught my eye. My husband is an entomologist (bug doctor) and labeled it an
Ichneumonid fly (parasitic wasp)--does not sting humans, just other insects and lays its eggs in them. It is a beneficial insect.

Beth Elsey said...

Didn't mean to be anonymous in "bug" post, just new at this!

Vicki Lane said...

Thank you, Beth! I've heard of those critters and am glad to know we have some around!