Pardon My Language, Friends.............

But y'all know me by now and when someone p*sses me off, well, you know how it goes. So here it goes................TO the F*CKTARD named Michael Swaim who attempted to leave a vile inappropriate comment...........................The answer to your question is to check under your nose, d*ckface!

Sorry folks, needed to be said

Well, It's Been A Busy Few Weeks

First, I have to say, although this was quite an investment, I think we'll save on hay over the summer in the long run. This stuff is great. Stephen invested in a handy little tow behind the tractor sprayer and we bought some of this stuff. A few weeks ago, Steve sprayed the pasture. Our biggest concern, other than Burdock and the multitude of other weeds, is the fact that more often than not, I end up locking the girls out of the pasture because of the "slobbers" they manage to get every year from the clover. This is supposed to kill clover. So far, so good, I see dead weeds all over and here's hoping it will do in the white clover. AND the good grass is growing well.


And as you can see, the girls are enjoying it immensely.....


We've had all the pups into the Vet for a relatively clean bill of health. Up to date on every one's vaccinations, toenails trimmed and started on their heartworm program. Koda Bear will go in on this Friday for his summer grooming. Although he has formed a new very loud "barking" habit. Good grief!

Zoe and Steve have had some successes and failures with the above ground gardens. We've lost some plants and had to replace some. Monday night, we found ourselves out there at 11pm covering everything to protect against frost. Things are looking better.

Kola's weight is much better under control and I don't have the worries I had last year over the massive amounts of hair she was shedding and Pre-Cushing's. I started her on her Palatech (levothyroxine) earlier and now am weaning her off slowly. She's looking good. And you can tell she is feeling so much better. Has quite a spring in her step these days.

And Misty is better muscled, moving even better this year than last. As many of you may remember her December 2009 knee injury. So hopefully, time & weather permitting, I may even get a little ride in next week. Hoping so, anyhow.

Chapter 1. Reflections From A Brit After 10 Years Living In The New World

One of the most common questions I am asked after people hear my British accent is "was it a big change to move to the United States"

Well after 10 years and a couple of trips back to England, I thought now would be a good time to write down my perceptions and changes to my life. The first thing to remember and possibly the most important in how my life has changed is by all accounts I was a city boy in England and here we live amongst farmers, crops and wildlife, so these changes reflect city to country and England to the United States

Where do I start ?

I will start with one of the most controversial of subjects and perceptions by Brits of Americans ( Gun Ownership ), prior to living here I like many others thought all Americans were gun toting crazies because in general Brits do not have guns and often British Media will show the worst of gun ownership with murders and mass killing without showing the other side of Gun Ownership.

After 10 years my views have changed drastically because of a number of reasons .

1. Hunting is a way of life in the States that has no cultural or demographic boundries, it is cheap and wildlife is plentifull and varied, it allows hunters to spend time experiencing the vast countryside and to commune with nature as Americans have been doing since they first settled this vast country.

2. Even in our semi countryside lifestyle we see a wide range of wildlife including Possums, Skunks, Deer, Coyotes plus we have been visited by a big cat ( Never saw it but we did see it's tracks in the morning ) and a number of accounts of horses being taken down in the vicinity, in the last few years even bears have started to appear not that far away, so if Callie wanted to sit out there one night and bag herself a coyote to protect her girls ( Kola and Misty )I would quite understand.

3. Crime in the nearest city ( Milwaukee ) is based around guns and if we were to live there I believe we would carry a weapon for protection.

4. Gun Ownership and the American Constitution, difficult to describe but the best I can come up with as a Brit is how America is so different from England, Unlike Britain where the laws of the country are countrywide, Each State in the Union has it's own laws and to a certain point is self governing and because of that have the right to bear arms to protect their State from Big Government. Sorry not that well explained although I do understand the concept.


Do I personally want to hunt or carry a gun after 10 years NO, but I suspect that is as much do with my previous life, I supsect if I had been born in the States and my dad had taken me hunting as a teenager my views might be very different.

As you can see after ten years my views have changed on Gun Ownership, I do still have problems with the concept of assault type gun ownership where guns are capable of firing 30 or 40 times as I struggle with how they can be justified, but I think I understand why some Americans fight for the right to buy them as they are concerned that the Federal Government could chip away at the basic right to Carry Guns.

Thoughts and Reflections a Brit on the American Way of life.

Steve

Country Living and Birds In The Garden

One of the wonderful joys of living in the country and working from home is the wide range of birds I can see from my office window.

I thought I would share just the first 10 today or the page will load to slowly, I may well do a further post later

American Goldfinch ( Always brings a smile to my face when I see them due the bright colors )

Baltimore Oriole ( Highly Unusual this year we have 2 pairs who come to the feeder )

American Robin ( To Many to count and to a Brit even after 10 years they blow me away because of the size compared with the little British Robin I was used to )

House Finch ( pretty little bird but like most in the bird world the female is quite plain )

Scarlet Tanager ( Not seen any yet this year but always a pleasure due to the bright colors )

Norther Cardinal ( My Pet name for this one is MR Special as he struts round like he all that and I suspect if I was a bright red color with a cool tuft of hair I might strut a bit )

Indigo Bunting ( We only ever see for a few days each year at the feeder but make a great site when we do )

House Sparrow ( It would be easy to dismiss this little bird because of the large numbers but when they are at the feeder with their young who are all fluffed up asking for food you can not help but love them )

Rose Breasted Grosbeak ( It has been couple of years since we have seen one but this year the male is spending a lot of time at the feeders )

Brown Headed Cowbird ( I thought this was a pretty cool bird when I first saw one because only when you look closely do you realize how clever the coloring is )



As a Brit who was always lived in a City or Burbs the range and color of the birds we see makes me happy as a pig in ????

I will try to post another 10 at a later post

Steve