Autumn Color - Part 1

I dropped Seamus and Fergus off at the groomer for their autumn haircuts. On the way home, I noticed what beautiful autumn scenery surrounded me, so I took a few detours in order to get some photos:

We were only at 40% color at the time according to the weather report, but it was glorious color:

I'd say that the woods bordering farm fields were more than 40% along:

These old hay bales appeared to have been there beside the road for years, but they framed the picture nicely:

One of the roads I took was called Pleasant Valley Road, which was fitting:

I've become adept at recognizing Roughleaf Dogwood in spring bloom and autumn color, even from a distance. That's it in the bottom right hand corner:

I took a detour though a tiny settlement called West Stockbridge and passed by this lovely lake:

The trees on the far side were beginning to take on color, and the lake itself was filled with Canada Geese and waterlilies:

The shoreline of the lake was home to New England Asters, dried Queen Anne's Lace and Cattails:

And the trees beside the lake were displaying lovely colors:

I took one last photo of the lake and then continued on my way:

Passing through farm country, I kept my eyes open for trees abutting hay fields and corn fields. But I knew there were even more colorful trees to be seen as I got closer to home, so I kept going. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Full Summer On The Farm

I already had 200 small square bales in the hayloft, but then the big round bales I'd ordered began to arrive - 80 of them, 28 at a time. I unloaded them with the tractor and bale spear:

They will feed the herd for 6 months of winter. Paying for them was difficult, though, and I now have trouble seeing the horses from the house because the bales block my view:

The dwarf Red Delicious apple is producing fruit nicely, though they're still only babies now:

I found a dead mole in the north field. It looked like a Star-Nose mole but didn't have the star nose. I looked it up and discovered that it was a Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri):

I flipped it over on its back and could see its bare nose (without a star) and its tale, which gave it the name, Hairy-tailed Mole:

Two big sections of apple tree had died over the winter, so I used the chainsaw to cut them off:

Then I used logging chains to drag them behind the tractor, across the gravel road and hay field, into the woods:

The Magic Carpet Spirea did well over the winter and began to bloom:

They are pretty flower clusters but apparently this variety doesn't get as big or bloom as heavily as the Bridalveil Spirea:

The tall Cedar tree near the county road needed to go, so I scored its trunk with the chainsaw and then pushed it over with the tractor, thereby avoiding the electric wires overhead:

I used the logging chains to tow this tree into the woods, just as I had the apple tree sections:

I left the trunk sticking up. I've learned that I can't cut them low enough to mow over, and then the grass grows up around it so I can't even see where it is:

Blue And Remy

It's early spring and Remy is finding lots of green grass to eat, probably more of it than he should eat. In this photo, it appeared that the cows were watching with amazement as he binged:

Both horsey boys are eating well and enjoying the slowly improving weather:

Gracie and Blue found a soft, dry place to nap in the afternoon sun:

And I continue to bring out hay bales, though the end is in sight:

Blue's hooves seem to be getting sore from eating too much fresh grass. He lies down too often and doesn't seem to want to get up. I will have to do something soon:

Are you talking about me?

But they are a happy pair, enjoying springtime:

Nobody needs to walk to the stock tank for water:

And nobody is going hungry:

As you can see, the pasture is greening up rapidly:

One morning I found Blue on the east side of the barn, looking wistfully across the road at the north field, which was even greener than the field he's in:

Remy was there too, but he was busy gobbling up grass by the old silo base. I need to find a way to limit these boys' grass consumption. Stay tuned for how this turns out:

Around The Farm

The grass has been gradually turning green and the winter hay supply is almost gone:

 Blue and Remy are about to begin their annual battle with me over wearing muzzles to keep them from developing founder, a crippling hoof malady. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle it this year:

 But for now they are happy. Blue is especially lovely as the wind lifts his mane:

 And Remy is all cuddles and sweetness as he trots over to greet me in the pasture:

 The both seem to be finding more than enough to eat in the short, dead grass of the south field:

 And neither one is in danger of getting too skinny:

 And speaking of tubby animals, the Red Poll girls have certainly not gone hungry. Here, Amy and Rosella were sharing some hay:

 The herd was waiting and watching as I brought a new bale out to them:

 Violet had all the hay she needed and preferred to just nap on some waste hay:

 A new bale, just delivered:

 My six hardy roses arrived and I lined them up on the kitchen counter to replace spilled soil and give them all something to drink:

 Then I moved them to the back room, where they will share a big, east facing window with the seed trays (which are not yet planted). Spring is arriving rapidly and I am struggling to keep up with it:

The Red Haired Ladies

Our weather continues to present us with spring one minute, then return to winter the next. I am running low on hay and wondering if the grass will begin growing by the time I run out. The cows' appetites are enormous:

Amy was resting on some waste hay. The frozen drainage ditch on the other side of her was a concern to me because the cows often try to cross it. Sometimes the ice supports them and sometimes their foot crashes through it to the bottom of the ditch. So far, though, there have been no injuries;

I moved the bale feeder away from the east side of the barn and out into the pasture:

Though we still got snow and wind, the weather was not as severe as it was in the winter:

The girls are looking healthy and spend their time eating and digesting hay:

Rosella is due to calve in May, Scarlett is due in August:

Sadly, Jasmine no longer comes into heat. That may be a blessing, though, as I'd be sorely tempted to keep any heifer calf she produced:

Though the bale feeder has been moved, the cows sometimes come back to the east side of the barn to sleep on the accumulated waste hay:

Sweet Jasmine, the only cow who loves attention:

Napping by the road:

And napping in the field:

We have had a number of late snowstorms, but all is well - at least until I run out of hay: