video

Feathery friend, and progress

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I had a nice surprise on my morning rounds today. :-)

It was just standing there, watching me! I got some video as I went past. I’m still in the process of uploading it, but the embedded link below should work once that’s done.

Grouse, I’ve noticed, are not the brightest birds. I headed into town later today and, on the way home, saw a bird on the side of the road. As I passed it, I could see it was a grouse. It wasn’t until then that it just turned around. Checking my mirror, I saw it still just standing there on the road, completely unperturbed by a vehicle going past so closely!

After my rounds, I stayed out to start mowing before things got too hot.

I finished some 5 hours later! Heat or no heat, I didn’t want to stop until it was done.

Then it was a trip to the dump, then into town. One of the things I picked up was marking paint.

I got tired of looking for the rocks I have to mow around! Four rocks and the remains of a tree stump in the yard, plus another rock in the “driveway” I mow to the back gate.

The girls, meanwhile, took care of the house. Not just the cleaning and stuff inside (including cleaning kitten eyes), but they are doing the eaves, as well. The last time they tried to do the eaves, they got attacked by horse flies, and today was the first chance to get up there again. As I write this, my younger daughter is up on the roof, cleaning the second floor eaves, too.

My daughters are awesome!

The day is not quite done. I have the last coat of paint on the gate to do (thanks to the girls flipping it for me while I mowed), and I want to get it done tonight. That way, by tomorrow evening, both sides of the gate can finally be moved out of the garage, and we can start parking the van in there again! :-D

Back to work I go!

The Re-Farmer

Hummer

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I was about to settle at my computer when I suddenly heard a buzzing in my open window, and Fenrir started going nuts at the screen.

My first thought was that it was a big bumble bee.

I was wrong.

I called my daughters over to see. They then went outside to rescue it, while I made sure Fenrir didn’t get back on the window sill and tear out the screen to get at it!

The girls found Doom Guy under the window, watching intently!

This morning, we saw a humming bird outside our living room window, going for the lilacs. That was our first sighting of a humming bird this year. I certainly didn’t expect to find one stuck in my window just a few hours later!

The Re-Farmer

Critter(s) of the Day: video compilation

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Not a photo of the day, today, but a video.

Yesterday, after moving Butterscotch’s babies out of her most recent hiding place and putting them with Beep Beep’s babies, I check on them several times throughout the day.

I also got some adorable videos.

The babies were clearly quite content with the set up. Beep Beep was also quite good with all the babies.

Butterscotch, on the other hand, was not happy.

She and Beep Beep don’t get along at times, but I hoped her own kittens would be enough for her to make the effort. There’s lots of room in that cat cave.

At my last visit with them, however, I changed my mind. I was able to pick Butterscotch up briefly, but she was very nervous and jumped down. Not before I could feel that her teats were engorged. The kittens were fine, which means Beep Beep must have been nursing them, too, because Butterscotch sure hadn’t been.

The last thing I want is for her to end up with mastitis, or lose her milk. So I put her babies back into the box nest, so she could nurse them in peace.

Ah, well. The kittens are getting more active as they get bigger, and will be able to cuddle and play together soon enough.

The Re-Farmer

All Three Litters

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This morning, I was able to get images of all three litters of kittens!

In the sun room, it was easier to get video than still shots.

All of Butterscotch’s babies have their eyes open now.

You can even hear Butterscotch purring as I took the video! The shake at the end there was her finally pushing her way under my hand to get to her kittens. :-)

Beep Beep seemed really happy to see me. I gave them both treats, right next to them, so they wouldn’t have to leave their babies to eat them. Butterscotch came out anyways, but she is not as into the treats as much as Beep Beep, who started looking for more! :-)

I was so happy to hear Beep Beep purring away as I pet her – and even got to touch one her kittens!

While putting food out for the cats outside, I checked on Rosencrantz as well. She ran off when I came close to the old dog house, so when I put the kibble out, I put some right outside the opening.

20190506.rosencrantz.kittens

It’s not as easy to get pictures of these ones. :-D

By the time I came back from putting the bird seed out, she was happily eating the cat food by her kittens, instead of the food by the house, so I think she appreciated the gesture. :-)

We’re just overflowing with babies! :-D

The Re-Farmer

Hello, little ones!

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With Butterscotch staying in the box nest I had hope Beep Beep would use to have her babies in, I decided to move the kittens in with her.

The next time I saw Butterscotch, she was where the kittens had been. Now, she’s hiding under the swing bench.

This mama wants her alone time!

I had put treats on the pillow to tempt the mamas to use it, but Butterscotch has been ignoring them. Beep Beep loves them, but won’t go in where the kittens are.

We are at the point where we’re expecting Beep Beep to have her kittens any time. She is also so very cuddly, while Butterscotch has become less so. It used to be the other way around. I think Butterscotch is ticked off at us for closing her up in the sun room. :-D

The Re-Farmer

Good morning…

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Spring decided to take off, this morning.

Bouncin’ Babies

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Ah, spring is in the air!

Here is some video I found while checking the trail cam this morning.

Pay close attention to the background.

The young deer back there are just full of bounce and energy!!

We are also looking ahead to more bouncing babies.

20190409.big.butterscotch

Butterscotch is getting big, and it’s not just gaining weight from having a reliable food source, anymore! She’s getting quite rolly polly in the middle. Should be interesting to see how big of a litter she has!

20190409.hello.beepbeep

I’m pretty sure that Beep Beep is pregnant. She, too, has put on weight just from having reliable access to food, so it may be just that, but … well … it’s that time of year!

The last while, it has been Beep Beep that has been following me when I do my rounds and wanting to be picked up. Butterscotch still wants up and attention, but I think it’s starting to get uncomfortable for her to be picked up, no matter how gentle I try to be. Beep Beep is taking advantage of this, it seems. She will just loll about in my arms, then give me chin kisses.

Such sweet kitties!

The Re-Farmer

Detail is back!

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When the piebald deer we saw last year, visited us again this year, I mused if another notable deer would return.

Yesterday evening, we had 6 deer outside our window. With the light fading, I took some video, as my phone camera automatically compensates for low light better in video, and hoped for the best.

Lo and behold, on reviewing the video, there I saw a butt with no tail!

Detail had returned.

I am so happy to know we have repeat visitors from a year ago! :-)

The Re-Farmer