Brrr!

I guess I don't need to say too much about the last two days of weather here.
The monitor might be hard to read but going clockwise 3:49 at the top is the current time, the 55F is the temp in the attic, the big 0 on the right is the current outdoor temp,
-28 is the wind chill, 38mph is the wind speed, 45mph is the gusts.

Yes, the temp in the attic bedroom reads 32F ... I guess I need to press upon the landlord the issues just a bit harder! This is just plain ridiculous.

Baby it's cold out there!

Wandering Bear Farm Weather Station
4:30 pm

-2F
-31F Wind Chill
44 mph Winds
46 mph Gusts

I don't want to sound too dramatic but I think today I witnessed my first true total white out. My truck is parked about five feet from my back door and I could barely make out an image of the big blue thing in the whiteness of it all. I took about a dozen pictures looking outside and it looks like I was taking pictures of a white sheet. I was thinking ahead today and fed and checked on everyone about an hour ago. They are all locked in for the night. Me ... I'll be coming up these stairs regularly to check the stats. It looks like it'll be a wild ride tonight!

Another chilly start

So yesterday was "cool" today is just down right COLD!

Wandering Bear Farm Weather Station

7am
-2F
-10F Wind Chill
3 mph Winds
5 mph Wind Gusts
15% Humidity

It's hard to describe the bitterness of the cold here. It seems the high plains desert is void of moisture in the air on any day. But days like today it seems like moisture gets sucked from your nose, lips, throat, and skin when you step out. It's so dry that the little dusting of snow we had on the ground disappeared overnight. I know it didn't melt into the ground, it's just too cold to do that. It just evaporates. The sky is crystal clear and I can see for miles and miles from my little attic window looking out on the world. I am totally against admitting it but I am afraid Winter has it's grip on us now .... ARRRRRG!!!!!!!

A chill

Wandering Bear Farm Weather Station

7am
6F
-12 wind chill
13 mph winds
19 mph gusts

We are not expected to warm much today. And tomorrow morning will be colder than this morning though they say that tomorrow will warm to a balmy 32F!

Corrections

Sorry for the mix ups. My story about the new kittens should have read that I caged the kittens so that Hunter, not Shadow, could get used to them.

And I didn't spell the Matrix doeling's name properly. It should be Ricki not Rickie.

OOOPS!

Furry additions

So while I was at the livestock auction a mother and daughter were trying to find homes for some kittens ... long story short, they are now some of the newest additions at Wandering Bear Farm. They are twin boys. So, since I am a Gemini and the stars are amazing out here most nights I am naming them Castor and Pollux. The names of the two brightest stars in the Gemini constellation. Now, I suppose that maybe they need collars of differing colors because I have looked all over their bodies for one differing mark and they are identical. But collars on farm cats aren't the smartest thing because they can get them caught on something. Right now until they know who I am and they get acquainted with Shadow and the surroundings they are in a big cage with food, water, litter box, and a box full of towels.

New chicks

The Monday after Thanksgiving day started out as a bright sunny morning. The temperature climbed quickly from 28 or so and eventually hit 54 that day. I was up pretty early, got the morning chores done, and decided to hit the livestock sale. I figured it might be fun as a change of pace since I hadn't been there in awhile. There wasn't a big choice of chickens up for sale that day. In fact roosters were selling for as low as fifty cents a head! I have a few I'd like to get rid of but not at that price! I came across a cage with three pullets (I hope) and got them for $1.00. I was told by the seller that they are a Silkie cross and are six weeks old. I am questioning the breed cross because the birds do not have the typical Silkie plumage. And even some experienced birders at the sale didn't think they were. The owner had many breeds in her flock so it's just a guessing game at this point. Being of similar age I decided to let them join my Americauna chicks I got a couple weeks back since they are about the same age. You can hardly tell the difference in the two breeds. The new chicks have black necks and speckles on their breasts.





The Silkie cross is the taller bird to the left and an Americauna chick is to the right.

A new game ...

... it's called Goat Shufflin'. I know you've all heard or been suckered into Cattle Tipping. Well since there's no cattle here at the farm right now I have had to create my own new game. (Yeah, I can get pretty bored out here)

During the holiday weekend Michael helped me move goats around. The buck Tuscon needed to be taken to another goat grower down the road. Rickie needed to go back to the Matrix compound. Since my adult Nubian doe is still at the dairy, that would leave my doeling Tuesday alone. Goats are herd animals so it's not good to leave them by themselves so another goat would be brought back here.

This is Tuscon in my arms with Rickie in front of him.

Tuscon




Rickie in my arms


Tuesday and me

Once Tuscon was delievered to the A&W ranch and Rickie was taken back to the Matrix Compound, Al and Bill gave me their buck Sequoia to bring back to give Tuesday both company and a breeding mate. Tuesday will be six months old on December 18th. She's not yet gone into heat that I have at least noticed.

Sequoia

Tuesday checking out the new meat on the farm!

The tree

Tuesday before my guests arrived for the Thanksgiving weekend I made myself set up my tree. I was determined to d0 it then to enjoy it over the holiday weekend since I knew I'd be by myself for most of December. This year I kept decorations simple, just the tree and a lit wreath on the front of the house.

Take time out ...

Yes, I have a pretty laid back life compared to those of you I know that read my blog. But I'd like to remind you my life here isn't always easy and fun. But once in awhile as I begin to feel things collapsing in on me I get unexpectedly rewarded.

I guess most mornings I drag my sorry hind end out of bed with aches and pains, sometimes a hang over feeling in my head without the previous night's consumption of too much alcohol, and a dog who appears out of no where from the heavy down comforter, tail wagging, jumping down and springs to life with a shake he starts his springing up and down ... his signal for "I gotta go -

and I gotta go NOW!"

The house is still dark. Sunrise will come in a matter of minutes. So I grope for my glasses, try to get my land legs, and usually bumping the door frame, walking zig-zag to the kitchen I feel the chilly linoleum of the kitchen on my bare feet, reaching for the coffee pot I fill it with water to heat my tea water, flip on the machine, and all the while have Bacci springing up and down and dancing around my feet giving me the second act of "Oh, Oh, I really have to go NOW!" Most mornings I try to stumble to the bath to do "that man thing" before he gets to go out to do his "dog thing". As I step out into the mudroom a much cooler air hits my face, bare chest, and feet. And like this morning I open the back door and the coldness nearly makes the hair on my arms brittle and my fingers feel like stubs. Bacci bursts out from under my legs to go do his thing and I slam the door behind him. As I wait to let him back in I scan the horizon from west to east. Pike's Peak this time of morning can be an amazingly stunning site. Today though the peak and the Sangre de Christos to the south are blanketed in heavy clouds. It's only as I look to the south and then the east that I am gently rewarded with a beautiful sunrise.

I quickly grab my work pants hanging in the mudroom and slide them on, throw on my insulated barn jacket to cover my bare chest, slide on my boots and step out into the bitter dry cold. I just had to take pictures of the dramatic show taking place in my side yard.

Ah, Life at Wandering Bear Farm ...

No need for words

Taos

This week I was asked to watch my friend's sweet Doberman, Taos. Bill rescued him this last year from a rescue group. Taos is sweet and gentle and has been fun to have here. He and Bacci have been together before and get along great.

It didn't take him long to discover that Bacci's bed is heated ...




And it took him less time to discover that my bed was bigger. Oh, if only his dad soaking up sun in Hawaii knew he was on the bed!


But Taos has one small behavior issue ... when I ran out to check the heat on the chicks he decided to shred Bacci's heated bed! Including the heating pad. When I came back into the house the breakers had been tripped. Needless to say I have had to keep him in his kennel much more than he'd like. He's still a sweet and gentle dog.

Keeping a perspective

One day a father of a wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On the trip back home the father asked the son, "How was the trip?" The son replied, "It was great dad"

"Did you see how poor people live?" asked the father.

"Oh yeah" the son said.

"So, tell me, what did you learned from the trip?" the father asked.

The son answers:

" I see that we have one dog and they have four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants that serve us and they serve others.

We buy our food but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them."

The father was speechless. Then the son added "Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are."

First off, this is not my writing. But after I read this it gave me a much better perspective of the person that I am and the person that I try to be. I don't have a lot of big fancy things. No fancy truck, not one acre to my name, no big home, no designer clothes, no jewels, no big name high tech computer or a phone that practically decides for you what you want to eat.

What I do have are many friends and a family who loves me to pieces. Yes, I get lonely often out here but it's all of you that keep me happy, healthy, and loved. I don't care if I have known you for years or just a week. If you and I have made a connection then you are a friend of mine. And that makes me a very wealthy man.

I hope that in the next many weeks during the holidays that you think of me whether we are face to face or miles apart ... because I will be thinking of all of you. I hope that the holidays that you chose to celebrate in your home are full of love and happiness. I am an even luckier man because I am spending Christmas with my adopted family in Bassfield, Mississippi. It's a haul to get there and back but I know while I am there that I will be surrounded by more love, happiness, and affection than I can possibly carry home. I hope you are as lucky as I am and you are enveloped in love as well.

New additions

On Saturday the 14th my friend Loyd from TX and I drove north of here just a few miles away in the 40mph winds to pick up my new Americauna pullet chicks. Americaunas are the chickens that lay the blue green eggs. These chicks are now about five weeks old. They spent three days down in the basement under a heat lamp during our last storm. I can't describe the smell ... they had to go! Loyd was nice enough to help me get an old cage covered in cardboard for insulation and get it set up in the chicken coop. As of today the dozen chicks are doing great. Unfortunately they seem to all be of the same color blend. I was kind of hoping to add additional colors to the big flock.

I think that maybe the chicks will be the same color tones as little Henny Penny that I purchased a little while back.

Decisions

Sometimes life just stinks. We all have those times in life when we have to make gut wrenching choices. For me most of the time those gut wrenchers involve love. And last Friday morning I was faced with an awful decision. I went out as usual in the morning to the barn to feed everyone. My usual routine is to feed Hunter and Shadow because they meet me at the door and get under my feet fighting for attention. Next are the goats because they don't shut up until they have hay in their mouths. LOL. Then I make my way to throw the chickens treats of stale bread and some old goat grain. On my way out of the barn I was stunned to see that Shadow was limping and had a pretty good size patch of skin torn away from his hip. So I picked him up, checked it out, and knew right away that it was time to see a vet. The patch was about five inches long and five wide and the skin was just hanging. So after running to Al and Bill's to get a carrier I ran him to the vet. I'd called ahead so the vet tech knew to expect me. A sweet woman who knew what she was doing and was very kind and gentle with Shadow ... and me. After a brief exam by her she told me the vet was tied up with a major surgery and wouldn't be able to check out Shadow until late in the day. But she was able to give me an estimate of the cost of services and I nearly needed medical care myself. The bill would start at $375.00. That included anesthesia, surgery, antibiotics, and on and on. My immediate reaction was to say OK. Those two "mousers" where brought to the farm to do just that. Of course they have wormed their way into my heart. I am a softy ... cat, dog, goat, horse, or chicken.

As I drove home I decided to call my best friend to get his opinion so that I wasn't acting on emotions. And it was probably the best thing I did. I just could not justify paying that kind of money to save a barn cat. I need that kind of money to save or feed Bacci, or my goats, or heat the house, or a whole list of other priorities. So I called the clinic back to tell them to euthanize Shadow. It killed me but it was a needed decision.

Now, there's a twist to this story and I am beginning to believe the whole "Nine lives" story about cats. Later the clinic called me back and to tell me that another vet tech came in and saw Shadow and had lost her cat just a few weeks back. She wanted to adopt Shadow and pick up all expenses. So within a few seconds I made the decision to let her take him and Shadow got a new lease on life! Hunter misses him I can tell. I miss him really bad. But it was down to a hair in decisions that gave him a chance to live. No more chasing mice in the fields or dodging a hawk or owl's talons. He's a house cat now!

The loss of followers

Oh geez! That title sounds like I am a cult leader doesn't it? LOL!

I was informed last night that if I didn't update my blog I'd be losing followers! So here's an update about what's going on at Wandering Bear Farm. The past couple weeks I have had a huge burden on my shoulders. After the last storm my stomach has been a mess over the problems with lack of insulation and proper weatherization of this old house when they updated the siding and the interior. I have been so twisted up that it ruined sleep and my appetite. If you don't know me by now, I can get pretty obsessed about stuff. I also have just a small amount of ability to worry over stuff .... Now at this point I can hear most of you laughing hilariously at that understatement. I'll pop you on the side of your head next time we see each other. OK? (G)

As soon as the storm ended. and I cleared my head, I settled down, I sat down and wrote a polite but direct letter to my landlord describing the three days of storm effects on me and the house. In the meantime I talked continually with my best friend and old roommate, Michael and we came up with a "Plan B' so I had something to fall back on just in case. Within a few days I got an email from the landlord telling me she'd be out as soon as possible to see these issues for herself. Yesterday she came out with one of the family's handymen and I showed them all of the issues. For the most part the handyman agreed with me about particular remedies that could be handled immediately. A couple items are going to take more organization and time.

Foam insulation is going to be blown in along the sill plate and foundation, measurements were taken for a new storm door for the "back door", and we figured out where leaks might be in the duct system. At some point the attic will be insulated but that's going to take some time to get done. Reality is that this is a very old farm house. It's going to have it's list of issues and it's going to have it's challenges. But it's nice to know I do have the support of the owners to keep the property in good condition. Hopefully these upgrades will make the next few winter storms a bit more bearable.

I am so happy here the thought of having to move because the house is not habiltable would be overwhelming. Oh sure I'd be a mess during the move and resettlement process but for sure I would land on my feet like I always seem to do. Maybe I'd have a scar or three, but maybe I'd do like I usually do and chaulk it up with the other life experiences that make me the man I am today. Not many people have the nerve or drive to take on a challenge like this and I am aware of that. Trying not to sound arrogant, I am pretty proud of my acheivements out here, emotionally and physically. And I have a million more dreams and ideas that I'd like to see happen on this little piece of land.

But of course without a small circle of very close friends none of this would be possible. Your phone calls, emails, dinners, and constant concern get me through the long, quiet, lonely days. For all of you in my life I am truly forever grateful.

And to date, that is Life at Wandering Bear Farm! ~B.

The three day storm

What a few days I have had! The forecasters did warn of a storm headed our way but there were three systems involved and even the computers didn't seem to have answers. Out here it started at dark on Tuesday the 27th when the winds began picking up.

I began taking notes that afternoon just out of curiousity to see how things would progress. It'll probably put most of you asleep but here are a few stats:

Tuesday 4pm
48F
0 wind chill
Winds 11mph
Gusts 15mph
Just a couple drfits left from last week's storm.



Tuesday 9pm
36F
24F Wind Chill
Winds 24mph
Gusts 32mph

Wednesday 6am
27F
12F Wind Chill
Winds 26mph
Gusts 42mph








Thursday 9am
24F
3F Wind Chill
Winds 41mph
Gusts 56mph

Thursday 7pm
20F
7F Wind Chill
Winds 25F
Gusts 31mph

This storm was a reality check for me. I know that this area is well known for heafty storms. That's not an issue with me. What was the shocker is that this house is not up to standards that make it comfortable to live in during conditions like I went through the last three days.


Previously I'd noticed air movement during high winds that was coming from along the baseboards. Thursday I found a layer of snow had blown in on the carpet in the bedroom and living room from along the same spots. bacci's bed had a layer of snow on it.


I had to put blankets up in the stairway to keep the cold air upstairs. Apparently the landlord sort of misrepresented herself about the place being well insulated. You can feel cold air passing through the walls. So then partioned off the desk area and used a heater to keep it somewhat warm.... Until the breaker popped. It got up to a balmy 51F. So I am trying to come up with Plan B and move my desk downstairs to my bedroom and shut off the upstairs until Spring.


I don't want anyone who reads this to be too worried that I am going to freeze to death. I am a survivor. I have put far too much hard work and money into making this place "mine" to sit idle and wait for a miracle of change. And I don't plan to sit in my living room and watch snow drifts form in front of my chair!


Friday 7am
15F
5F Wind Chill
Winds 7mph
Gusts 9mph

The blue sky and sunrise were a very comforting thing to see!



Friday 2pm
45F
0 Wind Chill
Winds 11mph
Gusts12mph


I am sure that everyone wants to know snow totals but there's no way to tell out here. The snow was blowing horizontal the whole storm. My snow is in New Mexico! Blizzard warnings were out and most roads were closed during Thursday.


Regardless of all this happening, all will work out. My glass is half full!

The close of day

One thing I don't think I'll ever grow tired of out here are the skies that I get to see. We had a beautiful sunrise and a beautiful sunset all in one day. Quite a difference from 24 and 48 hours ago.

Sunrise Friday October 23

My blabbering would just ruin the pictures. Not much needs to be said ...

The day after

Well, this is what I woke up to this morning ... No more snow and the winds are back to a decent 21mph, the temperature was 27F. The drifting wasn't too bad really. I expected worse. The barn pets are all doing well. The temp in the barn was 41F at 545am this morning and no snow blew in overnight. Closing up the doors and building and installing the new window really helped.

Now at 10am the sun has started showing itself and the temp has risen to 32F. Not too bad! The roads in many areas I am told are sketchy. I see people having trouble getting up the hill to the west of me on Mid Jones. I had planned to go to town today for groceries and errands but I think I'll put that off for tomorrow!

WOOOOO - HOOOOO!!!!!!!

Y'all just made my morning!!! And warmed my chilly body from the cold fingers to the frozen toes!



I just noticed that I now have TWENTY, 20, t-w-e-n-t-y followers! I am so very flattered and surprised that you take the time to see what's going on here in my little patch of the planet!



Thanks for making me put on a big goofy grin! Good thing you can't see that! LOL!

6 hours later ...

So two days ago the forecasters said this storm would be a one day event and be cleared out by afternoon. Uh, ... I think they messed up on this prediction.



Temp 31F (has hardly moved today)
Wind Chill 17F
Winds 23mph
Gusts 29mph


And the snowing is now getting heavier. This is what it looks like at 4pm

Just 14 hours

Late yesterday afternoon far in the distance the I could see the silhouettes of the Twin Sisters . The "Sisters" are due west of Pueblo to the southwest of here and are part of the magnificent Sangre de Christo Mountain chain.



This is what I woke up to this morning ... 14hours after I took the picture of the mountains last night.
Temp 31F
Wind Chill 15F
Winds 37mph
Gusts 44mph

The house has been hammered by high winds since I went to bed last night. I barely slept. The house vibrates so much that it was shaking my bed and my computer monitor is shaking as I type now.

The barn pets are all snug. I closed them up late last night. I just checked them and it was about 38F in the barn where the goats are. The chicken coop was at 44F. They make lots of heat.



This weekend they say it will be back up in the 60's! Geez, I can't wait! LOL!

Another project done

I know it's kind of dumb to write about a stupid wooden post. But these darned things where like a bad dream. Each day I'd walk to the barn, or look out the attic window and see these things standing in my way to progress. The previuos tenant used them for fencing in horses. They are 8" in diameter, 8' feet long, weigh about 75lbs, and were buried 3' deep!!! They left a total of 17 in the ground. They had to be hand dug out. It's back breaking work. But determination got them out of the way ...


The view at 6pm last night. The last of them.

The plots

After last week's horrible fogs and freezing, the weather, that is always changing, dramatically changed. About two days after that messy weekend the weather like it does so frequently here changed dramatically. Two days after that messy weekend the sun came out and began a warming trend. This past weekend we saw highs nearing 80F! I had my shirt off and was soaking up the vitamin D!

Since the weather has been cooperating, lots of work has been progressing. Last week the garden plots got tilled up. These aren't good pictures because the soil and the dried grass and weeds kind of blend in. There are four "plots". The main plot in the center is 30'x45. It's flanked by to plots that are 30'x12'. And the last plot is running along the front of the three others and it is 62"x6'.

The middle main plot will be for all root crops, greens, tomatoes, and along the back I plan to have a trellis for beans and some ornamental gourds

The two side plots are for sweet and ornamental corns and squashes.

The long narrow plot will be for my flowers.

I enjoy growing heritage vegetables. I have a bag in the refrigerator that is packed full of seeds I have been collecting seeds for years Some seeds last a very long time others don't. I'm just going to experiment. The other experiment will be working with this very loose sandy soil. I need to add LOTS of goat manure and old hay and some chicken manure and bedding to build up the organic matter to help retain moisture. I do plan to water with soaker hoses and lay down some sort of mulch that these awful winds don't blow away.

If you look very closely the plots are all in line with the corner of the barn. The small pine tree in the upper right sits at the edge of the long narrow flower bed running across to the barn. behind that is the one corn plot to the right, the big veggie plot is center, and the other corn plot is to the left close to the barn.