Bears

April 2012 note:  the bears have left the den, and moved on with their lives.   Maybe IF&W will be able to do something like this in the future.   That would be lovely.

Entry:

It is worth checking watching and listening to the mother bear in her den with her two cubs, born January 16th (courtesy a live streaming web cam placed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (IF&W)):  http://bangordailynews.com/link/watch-mama-bear-lugnut-and-her-cubs/

The mother bear is often sleeping, but she might be waking up a bit and checking on the cubs.    I find the sounds more fascinating than the video.  The first time I watched, she was making a sound that, to me, was very similar to a sound our old coon cat makes when he is sleeping, snoring and content.  I can't help but think it is soothing to the cubs.   She makes other gentle sounds too.  When I think of bears, I tend to think of the frightening one that tried to get into a friend's barn, or the ones I was warned about avoiding as a child.   I feel differently now.

More mild weather: snow, sleet and ice

Winter came back spitting a mix of snow, sleet and ice.   The nearby University of Maine is shut down for the day.   Rain is in the forecast for this afternoon.

I like the way the front door mat looks after I drag a shovel across it to clear the doorway.

Another indicator of a mild winter so far -- the farm sign by the front door normally blows off a few times at the beginning of the season.  After a little cursing, it is brought in for the winter.  The sign is still there!

I just came inside from clearing the driveway and paths.   There isn't much snow, but I wanted to try to move some of it before the rain creates slush, and the evening turns the slush to ice.

I cut a gentle path up to the house, and to the barn.We use a small John Deere tractor and snow blower attachment.   I like that it can spread the snow thinly over a wide area, rather than making big snow plow mounds.  The area looks less disturbed and quieter.

I'm in a good mood because there wasn't much wind, and that wind was heading the right way, so I didn't get a snoot full of sleet from the blower.   Soaked hat and gloves are recovering by the wood stove.   Hot chocolate is calling.

Bare ground January day

 

I enjoy January thaws, as long as nothing floods too badly.   But, seeing bare ground like this the third week in January, when we've had little snow so far, seems very odd.

I walked around to take pictures and document conditions, which I don't normally get to do this time of year.   They will help me to plan for fixing things when the weather warms up.   I am grateful this board fencing behind the sheep is still standing.   Only a matter of time until it comes down, and I need to get something in the budget for replacement materials.

Also in the picture are the three ancient sheep.   It is not commercial to keep old sheep around and I forever feel guilty but, well, at this point they are here for good if I can help it.   At least they don't cost much to keep, since we put up our own hay.  It wouldn't feel as much like home without at least some sheep around.  These are descended from the first two shetland/finn cross ewes I ever owned.

The green patch in the picture below is the "new" garden plot that was started last year.   I turned in a lot of aged horse manure, planted to buckwheat and turned in, then planted to winter rye that will be turned in, along with lime, this spring.   Started with basic clay, so it pretty much needs almost everything.   I'll probably be imprudent and plant something here this year, and see how it goes. Lots of happy weeds are expected.

Another "new plot" that just barely got started last fall is beyond the fence, in the old pasture.   Last fall I skimmed it with the cultivator, and piled on aged horse manure and grass clippings.   It grew up in mowed pasture plants before winter, which will hold the soil.    This year, it will likely get turned over deeper, have more inputs added, and be planted to green manure for the season.   

I haven't figured out where to start the "next" plot yet but...probably it will be in the old pasture too. I'm trying to expand the area in vegetables a bit each year:  more food for family; more food for community.

January 21st. Sunny and bright.

Oooooh....seed catalogs.   I'm late deciding what to order this year, but finally got that Christmas feeling going....looking forward to a garden in the spring brings on a bit of the same endorphins as looking toward Christmas presents when a kid.

My favorite catalogs are Fedco and Johnny's.   Both Maine catalogs made the top 10 in the national list of seed-order catalogs in Mother Earth News recently, and very well deserved.   I think Fedco would have been higher in the list if it wasn't a co-op, but because it is a co-op it is better priced and funky - wouldn't change a thing.