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I couldn’t help myself – again!

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My goal of the day was to finish using the weed trimmer around the yard, then hopefully starting part of the lawn.

Then I read the forecast for the day.

There were thunderstorms predicted for the evening.

On doing my rounds and finding the grass was already dry of dew, I skipped everything else and started mowing. Aside from a couple of short breaks to eat and hydrate, I’ve been outside all day.

The forecast ended up changing to rain, and now even that seems to be off the radar, but the job is done.

The last section I work on is the path to the back gate. As usual, I’ve been making the mowed area slightly wider then before, but in that area, sections are just too rough, and I know there are rocks and logs hidden in the grass somewhere, so I’m very careful about that right now.

While going past the back gate, I found myself looking at the other side each time. It hasn’t had new gravel on there in decades, so it’s grown over. Grass is one thing, but I was seeing saplings start to grow, right under the gate we rebuilt last year.

Then I remembered I still had the gate key in my pocket.

That looks much better!

On the list of things to eventually get done it to add gravel to our driveway. I’ve talked to my brother about it, and he says our little gravel pit is mostly out of gravel and wouldn’t have enough to do the driveway. What I would really like to do is extend the driveway from one gate to the other, so that this entrance can also be used without lurching over the rough areas. At least part of it is from someone driving through the area when it was muddy; a pair of tire tracks cut through, deep enough that I figure the driver was doing a lot of spinning to not get stuck.

This would be pretty low on the priority list, compared to things like a new roof. When the time comes to get estimates, I hope to get 3; a shorter term goal to do the main driveway, a mid-term goal to do the parking areas and up to the old pump shack, and a long term to extend the rest of the way to the back gate.

Until then, I’ll just keep it mowed, so the trees don’t take it over.

The Re-Farmer

I couldn’t help myself

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With all the wonderful rain we’ve had, the lawn is quickly reaching jungle proportions. So I started weed trimming the edges before breaking out the riding mower.

It never fails.

Every time I bring out the weed trimmer, I find myself going further and further into the bush.

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Still falling, still alive, and kitten news

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With so many branches of all sizes fallen during the storm, I’m still picking up ones I’ve missed around the yard, along with new ones that have fallen since.

While I have been staying away from working on the outer yard, I did notice a fairly large branch had fallen near the chain link fence, so yesterday evening, I went and dragged it out.

I ended up dragging out other dead branches that had been there before, as well, but none were as big as this one.

It will be good to finally clean up around and between these old maples. When I was a kid, the fence was on the other side of them, and they were part of the inner yard.

They are not doing very well.

I’m pleased to find, however, that another maple IS doing well.

When I cleared here last year, taking out a rotting stump, I found it had actually been supporting the still living part of the tree. It tipped over precariously, so I straightened it and tried to give it support at ground level. It tipped again, if not quite so much, and I had my doubts if it would survive.

I’m happy to say, it is looking quite healthy! Just a couple of dead branches that will need pruning.

As I doing my rounds in the morning, I pick up any branches that have fallen during the night. I was doing just that in the south yard, under one of the Chinese elms, when I heard some noise above me – looking up just in time to see another dead branch fall down and land next to me!

Picking up fallen branches is one of those never ending chores. Like dishes. No matter how many times you do them, they always come back!

The Re-Farmer

Addendum:

Sorry! I had to hurry because a roofing company was coming over to do an estimate, and didn’t get to include the kitten news!

With my daughter’s help, I was able to get photos of each of the kittens, and the 2 moms. I’d already got permission from the administrator of a regional Facebook group that includes the city, and posted the pictures last night.

The first person who responded told me I should go to a rescue society, get them fixed, because there were too many kittens.

It was very condescending.

Then I got a response from someone talking about how we probably have more all over the place beyond the ones she’s seen, and even made a comment about how she thought they looked “demented.”

This person has never been here, and has never seen these kittens.

I recognize the last name, so this is probably someone who lives in the area. In fact, she might even live on the property on the other side of my brother’s place, at which point, she might be thinking of his yard cats. I don’t know, but it was a weird comment!!

Thankfully, I also got three people expressing an interest in adopting. One lives 2 hours away, but if things work out, we might be able to meet half way, in the city, at the end of the month and we can deliver a kitty when we do our monthly shop. The kittens will be old enough to leave by then.

We shall see how it works out!

My morning – in cats

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It’s been cats, right from the start of my morning!

Are you up, yet?

I didn’t even get out of bed yet, when Fenrir claimed my wrist as a chin pillow while I checked my phone. I could just barely angle the phone to get this picture.

Her chin is so soft and warm on my wrist, I can’t complain, even if it does make it hard to check the weather for the day!

Where have YOU been, Jim?

While starting the cat stuff outdoors, a very dirty Big Jim came by.

Do I really want to know how he got black on him like that?

May I come out?

Beep Beep came over while I was securing the door from the outside.

May I come in?

A curious Big Jim! Checking on things while I washed out the kitten’s eye.

Jim has gone into the sun room with the kittens only once, that I know of, and the moms drove him out. This morning, this was as far as he dared go. :-D

The Re-Farmer

New Range Hood – part 1

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Yesterday, my darling daughters began working on replacing our old, not working right, range hood.

It’s still not done.

Here is the progress so far – and I apologize in advance; some of these progress photos are really gross!

First up, here is the new range hood that my daughter bought.

Note the placement of the light, at the front of the hood.

This is what it’s replacing.

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Kitty Status

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Just a quick update on the new kitties.

Here are a couple of photos from last night.

After cleaning their eyes, I put the new kittens into the box nest, and they cuddled right up to each other.

That grey tabby looks as woeful as Not-Slick!

I think I’m going to have a hard time telling the orange tabby apart from Beep Beep’s orange tabbies!

When Beep Beep came in, she seemed rather okay with the new addition – you can see the new grey tabby by her front paws in the above picture.

When I checked on them this morning, as expected, all the kittens were in one big pile!

The new grey tabby is in the back, and his eyes are stuck shut again. He could hear a commotion, of course, and was growling away. I did not try to go near him. We’ll have to come back a few times throughout the day to check their eyes, and wash them as needed.

There is no sign of the new orange tabby. Either it’s under the dresser, or the mama managed to get it out before the door was closed for the night. I’m going to assume for now that it’s eyes will need cleaning again, too.

Beep Beep was with the kittens overnight and when I opened the storm door for the sun room this morning, Butterscotch was outside, waiting. She seemed to want me to move the “gate”, but eventually jumped in.

While going around to put cat kibble and bird feed out, I passed Rosencrantz or Guildenstern, coming around the corner by the main entry. I was happy to see her. When I went around to put the bird feed out, I did see her other grey kitten disappear under the concrete steps, so she has gone back to him. Still no sign of the 4th kitten, though. :-(

It’s unfortunate that we’ve split the litter up like this, but it’s the only way to treat their eyes. At least we know Butterscotch and Beep Beep are willing to nurse any and all the kitties, so we don’t have to worry about the ones in the sun room going hungry, even if their mom doesn’t jump the gate to check on them. Plus, they’re big enough that they can start eating the cat kibble.

We will keep a close watch on them.

The Re-Farmer

Bonus critters, and a kitty gate

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We had some new, furry visitors to our feeding station this morning!

This is a first for us to see raccoons! :-)

They are so fuzzy!!! Like round little bears. :-D

This morning, I also figured out a way to let the mama cats out of the sun room, while keeping the babies in.

I noticed a whiteboard I had in storage, and gave it a try. The whiteboard is too slippery for the kittens to climb, and even if they managed to climb up the jugs I shoved against it to keep it from tipping, the marker ledge should keep them from being able to climb over. The remaining question was whether or not the moms would jump over it, and if they would knock it down when jumping back.

As my daughter and I were heading out to go to town, I heard a noise and saw that Beep Beep had jumped it, without knocking it down. When I came back later, however, it seemed the Butterscotch hadn’t figured it out yet. So I just lifted her over. You can actually see her in the photo, at the old dog house, where she promptly went to eat some grass! She has since returned to the sun room, and the kitten gate is still up, so it seems to be working.

The kittens, meanwhile, were content to ignore the set up.

They had all been sprawled on that blanket until they saw me moving around. A few came to check things out, then stayed to play.

This one, however, just luxuriated…

Cutest.

Thing.

Ever!!!!

In other things, we have not been able to work on painting the gate again, yet. We had a good rain during the night, so it was still wet when we went into town. I’m hoping to get some more done this evening, once it starts to cool down a bit. At least the area that’s already painted is no longer tacky to the touch! Tomorrow, I’ll be driving my mother to a medical appointment, so if I get some painting done today, that’ll give it plenty of time to cure tomorrow. No rain is predicted overnight, so that should help, too. We’ll see how it works out.

For now, we’re just staying out of the heat!

The Re-Farmer

Kits and birds

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With today’s rain, it’s been a fairly quiet day, but I still have some fun things to share with you.

Like this adorable shot I got last night.

This little tuxedo has really taken to being handled – and climbing us like trees!

On the down side, after climbing back and forth on my shoulders, he then jumped down onto the back of the swing bench before jumping/falling down to the concrete floor. :-( That’s a long way for such a tiny kitten!

I got this shot, this morning.

Three of those 6 kittens are hers. :-D One of hers and one of Beep Beep’s were off napping on the blanket on the floor by the tool dresser. They’re all like one big litter now! :-)

The kittens have discovered that they can get into the bottom drawer of the tool dresser from underneath. They couldn’t, however, get back out again. We now keep that drawer open a few inches, so they can get out from through the top of the drawer, instead.

I have also found I can no longer open the top dresser drawer. I don’t know why, yet, as there are too many kittens around to safely move things and find out. That drawer has the tools I used most often, so I rather need to open it at some point! :-D Thankfully, the tools I use every time I work to clear the trees are kept in an open shelf above, instead, so I can at least access those.

On my way to pick up my daughter, I found the barn swallows working on their nest. They were flying around so much, I didn’t even try to take a photo, and got a couple of short videos, instead.

When I was a kid, I always saw these birds building their nests under the eaves of the barn, but I’ve never been this physically close to them before.

I’ve always enjoyed watching them. :-)

The Re-Farmer

Being watched… and frozen!

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Yesterday evening, we had someone watching us through our kitchen window.

Big ole Nicky the Nose is making himself at home! Just look at that face! Just look at that…

… eye…

I went looking at some better pictures we got of Nicky, just to see if this is normal. :-D Turns out that his right is eye, indeed, slightly smaller than the left, but not normally squished up like that. Not sure what’s going on in this picture! :-D

Meanwhile, while doing my rounds this morning, I discovered this, in the bird bath.

Yup. That’s a layer of ice on there. Not a thin one, either!

It’s June 2, and we’re still going below freezing overnight!

This is going to be rough on people’s gardens. :-(

We’re supposed to get a high of 16C (60F) today, then tomorrow, we’re supposed to hit 25C (77F), with possible thunderstorms by evening, and stay high for the next week or so.

So… the weather we typically would have been getting in April.

If we’re going to have thunderstorms on Monday, we’ll have to do something about the gates we’re working on. Not good weather for paint to cure outdoors!

The Re-Farmer