Recently, one of my Creative Writing students at Lord Botetourt High School asked me what my favorite season is. When I was younger ( I am 62) or even just a decade ago, I would have answered the summer.
But now, I no longer have a favorite season, enjoying them all equally. Fall has officially arrived, and I enjoy that pleasant "nip" in the air some mornings. I am preoccupied with deer hunting and West Virginia's and Virginia's fall turkey season both start soon, and I will be afield on opening day in both states. This month Elaine and I have gathered summer grapes for jelly and walnuts for cookies. In another month or so, it will be time to pick persimmons.
Winter, too, has its charms. There is no joy like waking up in the morning and finding six inches of snow on the ground. Elaine and I will stay home and play scrabble, and she will bake a blackberry pie for lunch. Later in the late afternoon, we will take a walk on the seeded logging road that encircles our property and observe what creatures have left their prints in the snow.
Spring means spring gobbler season, trout and river smallmouth fishing, and the woods bursting forth in every shade of green imaginable. Any morning I hear a gobbler sounding off - well nothing can be finer.
And then summer. The unhurried rhythm of a summer day: writing in the morning, walking three miles, lunch with Elaine, and an afternoon nap, then more writing and then stopping work for the day at dinner. Then that long summer twilight of birds singing and the stars coming out.
I like all the seasons.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
(Land Saver Award from Blue Ridge Land Conservancy (Blog 208)
Last Sunday, Elaine and I received the 2014 Land Saver Award from the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy at its annual Conservation Celebration. Quite honestly, it was one of the most touching honors we have ever received.
At the event, I was supposed to address the attendees, and I had planned my talk. I was going to talk about how when I was 12, my Grandfather Willie showed me the family farm, now houses in Franklin County, Virginia, and how he cried when he told me how the family had lost the land. "We used to be landed, but we're not anymore," said my grandfather as he was convulsed with tears.
Then I was going to talk about how I promised my grandfather that I would save my money and buy rural property and one day the Ingrams would be "landed" again. That the main reason I became a writer was so that I could have a second job and use the money earned to buy rural land in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia.
Then I was going to thank Elaine for taking care of all the daily chores of shopping for clothes, buying groceries, and taking the cars for inspection and repairs so that I could write and teach school. And last I was going to end up quoting Scarlet O'Hara's father Gerald who said in Gone with the Wind: "The land is the only thing in the world worth working for... because it's the only thing that lasts."
But I only made my way part way through my talk, not even being able to praise my wife for bringing joy into my life and being such a perfect spouse and helpmate, before I broke down in tears. So, Elaine, even though I didn't say those things last Sunday, I will say them now - thanks sweetheart.
If you live in Southwest Virginia and believe in the precious nature of land, here is the conservancy's website for you to learn more:
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www.blueridgelandconservancy.org.
At the event, I was supposed to address the attendees, and I had planned my talk. I was going to talk about how when I was 12, my Grandfather Willie showed me the family farm, now houses in Franklin County, Virginia, and how he cried when he told me how the family had lost the land. "We used to be landed, but we're not anymore," said my grandfather as he was convulsed with tears.
Then I was going to talk about how I promised my grandfather that I would save my money and buy rural property and one day the Ingrams would be "landed" again. That the main reason I became a writer was so that I could have a second job and use the money earned to buy rural land in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia.
Then I was going to thank Elaine for taking care of all the daily chores of shopping for clothes, buying groceries, and taking the cars for inspection and repairs so that I could write and teach school. And last I was going to end up quoting Scarlet O'Hara's father Gerald who said in Gone with the Wind: "The land is the only thing in the world worth working for... because it's the only thing that lasts."
But I only made my way part way through my talk, not even being able to praise my wife for bringing joy into my life and being such a perfect spouse and helpmate, before I broke down in tears. So, Elaine, even though I didn't say those things last Sunday, I will say them now - thanks sweetheart.
If you live in Southwest Virginia and believe in the precious nature of land, here is the conservancy's website for you to learn more:
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Saturday No. 2 of Urban Archery Season (Blog 207)
Today was the second Saturday of Virginia's Urban Archery season, and the second day I've gone deer hunting. I was unable to bowhunt all week with a heavy work load from school, plus meetings, and magazine work as well. So I had looked forward to going afield on Saturday.
However, I awoke to rain falling, and not liking to bowhunt in the rain because of the difficulty of following a blood trail when precipitation is occurring and the danger inherent in climbing a tree in the rain and dark, I decided to stay home and write.
I have this theory that deer move immediately after a prolonged rain stops, but the rain stopped around noon, and I was unprepared to leave for a stand then. When I did climb into a stand around 4:45, I had this feeling that the deer would not move again until after dark.
Which turned out to be true, at least no whitetails meandered by my stand before I climbed down at sunset. Next Saturday, I am going to hunt on a flat that has trees dropping acorns. I feel better about my chances - providing the wind is right.
However, I awoke to rain falling, and not liking to bowhunt in the rain because of the difficulty of following a blood trail when precipitation is occurring and the danger inherent in climbing a tree in the rain and dark, I decided to stay home and write.
I have this theory that deer move immediately after a prolonged rain stops, but the rain stopped around noon, and I was unprepared to leave for a stand then. When I did climb into a stand around 4:45, I had this feeling that the deer would not move again until after dark.
Which turned out to be true, at least no whitetails meandered by my stand before I climbed down at sunset. Next Saturday, I am going to hunt on a flat that has trees dropping acorns. I feel better about my chances - providing the wind is right.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Virginia's Opening Day of Urban Archery Season (Blog 206)
Yesterday was opening day of Virginia's Urban Archery Season, and I spent much of the morning watching squirrels and wondering why the mosquito spray seemed powerless to ward off the beasties. I did not see a deer during the morning sit and went home for lunch and a nap.
Returning to the same Roanoke County woodlot around 4:15, I soon discovered that the mosquitoes were worse and even the squirrels were elsewhere. But I decided to proverbially "tough it out," and sometimes that is the right decision to make.
For about 40 minutes before dark, five deer began making their way toward me, and I was able to send a bolt from my Parker Thunderhawk crossbow through the lead doe's lungs. Ninety minutes later, my son-in-law David Reynolds helped me quarter the doe, and this morning Elaine and I began the process of canning the venison, minus the tenderloins and roasts that we froze, and the heart which will form the makings of school lunches for four or five days.
I am very glad that I stayed in the woods all evening.
Returning to the same Roanoke County woodlot around 4:15, I soon discovered that the mosquitoes were worse and even the squirrels were elsewhere. But I decided to proverbially "tough it out," and sometimes that is the right decision to make.
For about 40 minutes before dark, five deer began making their way toward me, and I was able to send a bolt from my Parker Thunderhawk crossbow through the lead doe's lungs. Ninety minutes later, my son-in-law David Reynolds helped me quarter the doe, and this morning Elaine and I began the process of canning the venison, minus the tenderloins and roasts that we froze, and the heart which will form the makings of school lunches for four or five days.
I am very glad that I stayed in the woods all evening.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Hanging a Tree Stand (Blog 205)
Yesterday I spent nearly two hours trying to find a place to hang a tree stand on a Roanoke County property where I will bowhunt next Saturday on opening day of Virginia's Urban Archery season. In short, I could not find a place where I feel I have a decent chance to tag a doe.
The woodlot I searched through (picture below) has a pasture or fields on all sides of it. A number of oaks are dropping acorns, but there was no tree near any of the bearing oaks that I could hang a stand in.
One of the best places where there were acorns was the pond that borders one side of the woodlot. The forecast for next Saturday is for temperatures in the 80s, and I though the combination of food and water offered great potential. But every tree near the pond was too large for a stand or left me too exposed to any deer that might come by.
I finally positioned my stand along a logging road that runs through the property. But I have no confidence in the spot. We will see what happens next Saturday.
The woodlot I searched through (picture below) has a pasture or fields on all sides of it. A number of oaks are dropping acorns, but there was no tree near any of the bearing oaks that I could hang a stand in.
One of the best places where there were acorns was the pond that borders one side of the woodlot. The forecast for next Saturday is for temperatures in the 80s, and I though the combination of food and water offered great potential. But every tree near the pond was too large for a stand or left me too exposed to any deer that might come by.
I finally positioned my stand along a logging road that runs through the property. But I have no confidence in the spot. We will see what happens next Saturday.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Snake in the House (Blog 204)
"Bruce, come down here, right now!" Elaine yelled from the kitchen this morning. My first thought was that I had committed some egregious error, but then it occurred to me that she was very scared. I ran from my writing room, scurried down the steps, and charged into the kitchen.
"Just look," she pointed to the recycling bin. "I thought the sealing of the back door meant that we were done with those things!"
I still couldn't see what she was so aggravated about, but, finally, she pointed directly at the reason for her anxiety. A sticky label from our bananas had fallen on the floor, landed on the side of the recycling bin, and a five-inch Eastern ringneck snake had become stuck on the label.
The poor creature was wriggling about in obvious duress, and I felt real sympathy for the stuck snake.
"Get it out of here, right now," Elaine demanded. "I will not share my house and kitchen with snakes."
"They're harmless," I meekly replied. "But I will remove it from the kitchen right now."
I took the banana label and the attached snake outside and carefully removed the poor creature from its sticky prison. The last I saw of the Eastern ringneck it was winding its way across the sidewalk and into the grass...free at last.
"Just look," she pointed to the recycling bin. "I thought the sealing of the back door meant that we were done with those things!"
I still couldn't see what she was so aggravated about, but, finally, she pointed directly at the reason for her anxiety. A sticky label from our bananas had fallen on the floor, landed on the side of the recycling bin, and a five-inch Eastern ringneck snake had become stuck on the label.
The poor creature was wriggling about in obvious duress, and I felt real sympathy for the stuck snake.
"Get it out of here, right now," Elaine demanded. "I will not share my house and kitchen with snakes."
"They're harmless," I meekly replied. "But I will remove it from the kitchen right now."
I took the banana label and the attached snake outside and carefully removed the poor creature from its sticky prison. The last I saw of the Eastern ringneck it was winding its way across the sidewalk and into the grass...free at last.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Deer Scouting (Blog 203)
My son-in-law David Reynolds and I spent this morning scouting for deer on various properties in Craig County, Virginia and Monroe County, West Virginia. We checked on stand sites, looked for deer and turkey sign, and, most importantly, assessed the acorn crop.
Our most important finding was that there seem to be more acorns this year than last. I noted scarlet oak and black oak acorns at several sites, though I found no white or chestnut oak acorns anywhere. Of course, it is still early in the "acorn dropping" arena, but, still, we were encouraged about what we found.
I have my compound bow and two crossbows sighted in, but I have not begun work on preparing my shotgun, rifle, or muzzleloader for the season ahead. That needs to be done shortly, as I like to have things prepared well in advance. And, of course, more scouting will be done as well.
Our most important finding was that there seem to be more acorns this year than last. I noted scarlet oak and black oak acorns at several sites, though I found no white or chestnut oak acorns anywhere. Of course, it is still early in the "acorn dropping" arena, but, still, we were encouraged about what we found.
I have my compound bow and two crossbows sighted in, but I have not begun work on preparing my shotgun, rifle, or muzzleloader for the season ahead. That needs to be done shortly, as I like to have things prepared well in advance. And, of course, more scouting will be done as well.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Copperhead in Front Yard (Blog 202)
Yesterday evening after school, I was cleaning out the hen house of our Rhode Island Reds. I had placed our birds in the chicken tractor that rests next to the sidewalk, so that they could feed on any vegetation or insects they encountered.
As I began walking up the sidewalk toward the tractor, the chickens began emitting their alarm call, and I noticed that a copperhead was sunning itself on the edge of the sidewalk. Our chickens have not had a good summer predator-wise, from a bear attaching the run to a stray cat stalking the perimeter. For that matter, our birds become alarmed when deer wander into the backyard.
I don't like killing snakes or copperheads. On a number of times since we have lived in our Botetourt County, Virginia home, I have observed copperheads and let them go on their way. They are a beautiful reptile that feeds mostly on mice and insects.
But our grandson Sam had earlier yesterday been playing on the sidewalk, and I just can't risk him being bitten, especially since he is only 26 months old. So I took a shovel and dispatched the copperhead. I felt very sad after doing so, but I felt I had no choice.
As I began walking up the sidewalk toward the tractor, the chickens began emitting their alarm call, and I noticed that a copperhead was sunning itself on the edge of the sidewalk. Our chickens have not had a good summer predator-wise, from a bear attaching the run to a stray cat stalking the perimeter. For that matter, our birds become alarmed when deer wander into the backyard.
I don't like killing snakes or copperheads. On a number of times since we have lived in our Botetourt County, Virginia home, I have observed copperheads and let them go on their way. They are a beautiful reptile that feeds mostly on mice and insects.
But our grandson Sam had earlier yesterday been playing on the sidewalk, and I just can't risk him being bitten, especially since he is only 26 months old. So I took a shovel and dispatched the copperhead. I felt very sad after doing so, but I felt I had no choice.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Back to School (Blog 201)
Tomorrow, Monday, I go back to teaching English and Creative Writing at Lord Botetourt High School, and I am really looking forward to beginning the school year. I began my teaching career 40 years ago, but I still really enjoy the classroom.
It is so much less stressful to teach school than to be a freelance writer. This summer I have had many book signings and fishing trips for articles and it has been exhausting. Being away from home and Elaine is no fun. I enjoy meeting folks at the book signings, but the long, lonely trips home are not something I enjoy.
Every day in the classroom there is an opportunity for me to teach my students something new, and for them to teach me something about life that I didn't know before. What could be better.
It is so much less stressful to teach school than to be a freelance writer. This summer I have had many book signings and fishing trips for articles and it has been exhausting. Being away from home and Elaine is no fun. I enjoy meeting folks at the book signings, but the long, lonely trips home are not something I enjoy.
Every day in the classroom there is an opportunity for me to teach my students something new, and for them to teach me something about life that I didn't know before. What could be better.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Summer's Bounty (Blog 200)
Today for lunch, Elaine and I sat down for a meal that came almost entirely from what I had killed or we had grown. On the menu were the following: deer burgers with tomato slices from the garden, new potatoes and chives from the garden, and yellow squash seasoned with onions.
Interestingly, I am working on an article right now of how to be a locavore, so our mid-day repast fit in well with that story. It is always a great pleasure to eat something I have pursued or grown, and I feel it is a healthy way to live, too.
Elaine is a marvelous cook, and her talents in the kitchen are why we have cooking columns with Whitetail Times and the Quality Deer Management Association. I am sure she will create something equally tasty for lunch on Sunday. I am also thinking that blackberry waffles might be a good dinnertime repast on Sunday.
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Interestingly, I am working on an article right now of how to be a locavore, so our mid-day repast fit in well with that story. It is always a great pleasure to eat something I have pursued or grown, and I feel it is a healthy way to live, too.
Elaine is a marvelous cook, and her talents in the kitchen are why we have cooking columns with Whitetail Times and the Quality Deer Management Association. I am sure she will create something equally tasty for lunch on Sunday. I am also thinking that blackberry waffles might be a good dinnertime repast on Sunday.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Brooding Chicks (Blog 199)
Elaine and I have tried twice this summer to raise chicks inside a brooder and have failed spectacularly both times. The first time in June we placed 13 eggs in a brooder and not one of the hatched and only one developed to a certain degree but did not even pip. Two others apparently developed for a few days then stopped inside the shell.
We waited a week or so and collected eight eggs. Seven of the eggs did not develop at all. One egg did develop, and we are waiting to see if the chick that was inside will survive. We don't expect it to survive the night.
We followed the advice on the brooder and turned the eggs when they were supposed to be turned. We would appreciate advice from readers of our blog.
We waited a week or so and collected eight eggs. Seven of the eggs did not develop at all. One egg did develop, and we are waiting to see if the chick that was inside will survive. We don't expect it to survive the night.
We followed the advice on the brooder and turned the eggs when they were supposed to be turned. We would appreciate advice from readers of our blog.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Book Signings and Fishing Trips (Blog 198)
I have just finished what I have long known would be the busiest of the summer. Monday, I gave a talk and book signing for the Warren County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League (picture below); Tuesday I went fishing on the South Fork of the Shenandoah with Shenandoah River Outfitters and interviewed artist Bruce Dellinger for an article for TURKEY COUNTRY.
Wednesday, Elaine and I drove to the South Branch of the Potomac, visiting every library along the way to see if they wanted to purchase my new book on the Potomac River. Thursday, I went fishing on the South Branch of the Potomac with Eagle's Nest Outfitters, and Friday I wrote almost all day it seemed. Saturday I went fishing with Rock on Charters on the New River.
I am absolutely exhausted and have more writing to do today, plus mow the lawn, pick berries, and try to spend some time with Elaine. Plus, I have to go to class online for the class I am taking for recertification. I am swamped.
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Wednesday, Elaine and I drove to the South Branch of the Potomac, visiting every library along the way to see if they wanted to purchase my new book on the Potomac River. Thursday, I went fishing on the South Branch of the Potomac with Eagle's Nest Outfitters, and Friday I wrote almost all day it seemed. Saturday I went fishing with Rock on Charters on the New River.
I am absolutely exhausted and have more writing to do today, plus mow the lawn, pick berries, and try to spend some time with Elaine. Plus, I have to go to class online for the class I am taking for recertification. I am swamped.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Wild Trout Fishing in the Virginia Mountains with my Wife Elaine (Blog 197)
Elaine and I decided to go off into the mountains to fish for wild trout for the July 4 Holiday. Even though Elaine has recovered extremely well from her breast cancer and chemotherapy from five years ago, she still becomes tired easily. So we decided just to drive to the end of a forest road and wade fish for maybe 75 yards up a Virginia mountain.
I was gathering anecdotes for a magazine article, so I won't go into details on fish caught, flies used, and that sort of thing. We only fished for about 90 minutes when I decided that Elaine was growing tired, so I announced that we were going home.
When we arrived home, Elaine started to apologize about her being the reason we stayed such a short time. That is typical of how sweet she is, always thinking of me and my passion for fishing. But I told her, and I meant this very sincerely, that the short little excursion with her was by far my best and most enjoyable fishing trip of the year. That I was just so happy to be with her and doing anything.
We have been married for 36 years now, and she is still the most fascinating person I know to talk to. I love her so much. The picture below shows Elaine gearing up for out outing.
I was gathering anecdotes for a magazine article, so I won't go into details on fish caught, flies used, and that sort of thing. We only fished for about 90 minutes when I decided that Elaine was growing tired, so I announced that we were going home.
When we arrived home, Elaine started to apologize about her being the reason we stayed such a short time. That is typical of how sweet she is, always thinking of me and my passion for fishing. But I told her, and I meant this very sincerely, that the short little excursion with her was by far my best and most enjoyable fishing trip of the year. That I was just so happy to be with her and doing anything.
We have been married for 36 years now, and she is still the most fascinating person I know to talk to. I love her so much. The picture below shows Elaine gearing up for out outing.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Time to Start Bowhunting Practice (Blog 196)
The past few days I have been practicing with my Matthews compound and Parker crossbow. Usually, I don't start until July 4, but I wanted to begin earlier this summer.
It has been two weeks since I have been out of school and I have been doing writing work of some kind for over 12 hours a day every day. I have written five magazine articles and planned book signings, which means I've been on the phone a great deal, for my new Upper Potomac book and the revised edition of the Shenandoah one.
Frankly, it has been a relief to go shoot the bows for 20 minutes or so. Shooting a bow, especially a compound, takes so much concentration that there is no room in my head to think about article deadlines or book signings.
The other day I placed a bunch of my bow-related gear on the bed in my writing room. There is so much to organize and decisions to make, do I need to buy new arrows and bolts, do I need to buy more blades, and, of course, both the compound and crossbow need to be sighted in. How do bows that have not been shot in months become out of whack so easily?
Anyway, as always, I look forward to bow season.
It has been two weeks since I have been out of school and I have been doing writing work of some kind for over 12 hours a day every day. I have written five magazine articles and planned book signings, which means I've been on the phone a great deal, for my new Upper Potomac book and the revised edition of the Shenandoah one.
Frankly, it has been a relief to go shoot the bows for 20 minutes or so. Shooting a bow, especially a compound, takes so much concentration that there is no room in my head to think about article deadlines or book signings.
The other day I placed a bunch of my bow-related gear on the bed in my writing room. There is so much to organize and decisions to make, do I need to buy new arrows and bolts, do I need to buy more blades, and, of course, both the compound and crossbow need to be sighted in. How do bows that have not been shot in months become out of whack so easily?
Anyway, as always, I look forward to bow season.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Hen Eggs Fail to Hatch (Blog 195)
Elaine and I had hoped that some of the 13 chicken eggs we had been incubating would hatch earlier this week. But, unfortunately, none of them did. When we opened up the eggs to see if any of them had developed, we found that only two had partially begun to form a baby chick.
This was most disconcerting as recently we have lost our alpha rooster Boss, had a bear attack the run, and had Sweetie Pie run away (only to be captured hours later) as a result of the bruin trying to break down one of the walls of the run.
We believe that the reason the eggs did not hatch is because they became too cold when we stored them in the downstairs refrigerator. We turned the refrigerator's dial as warm as it would go - 50 degrees - but that apparently was not warm enough.
Tomorrow, we will begin another incubation period, hoping that we have learned from our past mistakes.
This was most disconcerting as recently we have lost our alpha rooster Boss, had a bear attack the run, and had Sweetie Pie run away (only to be captured hours later) as a result of the bruin trying to break down one of the walls of the run.
We believe that the reason the eggs did not hatch is because they became too cold when we stored them in the downstairs refrigerator. We turned the refrigerator's dial as warm as it would go - 50 degrees - but that apparently was not warm enough.
Tomorrow, we will begin another incubation period, hoping that we have learned from our past mistakes.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Spending Father's Day with My Son (Blog 194)
Sunday, Father's Day, I spent much of the day with my son Mark. In the morning, we went float fishing on the Roanoke River. Although the fishing was poor (we only caught one small smallmouth between the two of us), I don't think either one of us minded too much. It was just good to talk about fishing, sports, school (both of us are school teachers) and life in general.
That evening, we watched the NBA finals game between Miami and San Antonio. Neither one of us is a fan of either of the teams, but that didn't matter. We analyzed coaching strategy, play selection, and fantastic - and poor - plays.
The poor fishing and indifference to who won the game are not what I will remember about this day. What I will remember is experiencing one of my best Father's Days ever. I have been extremely fortunate in my life to have a wonderful wife Elaine and two wonderful children in Sarah and Mark and now even a fine son-in-law David and grandchildren, Sam and Eli.
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That evening, we watched the NBA finals game between Miami and San Antonio. Neither one of us is a fan of either of the teams, but that didn't matter. We analyzed coaching strategy, play selection, and fantastic - and poor - plays.
The poor fishing and indifference to who won the game are not what I will remember about this day. What I will remember is experiencing one of my best Father's Days ever. I have been extremely fortunate in my life to have a wonderful wife Elaine and two wonderful children in Sarah and Mark and now even a fine son-in-law David and grandchildren, Sam and Eli.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Fly Strike Fells Rooster (Blog 193)
Last week, we sadly lost our alpha rooster, Boss. Boss was the biggest Rhode Island Red I have ever seen and gentle as he was huge. We had just finished gathering eggs fertilized by Boss for incubation when he apparently developed the flu or a bad cold; we are not sure which. He was lethargic on a Tuesday and very sick on Wednesday.
I removed him from the rest of the flock on Wednesday and gave him water, which he periodically threw up. I noticed that flies were buzzing about him, but I figured that was because of his droppings which were quite moist. On Thursday morning, there were several hundred maggots around him and an hour later he was dead. When I removed him from the chicken tractor, hordes of maggots were writhing in his vent area.
After talking to some other folks and doing research, Boss appears to be a victim of the original ailment that struck him, as well as the flies finishing him off by breeding on him -called Fly Strike. Elaine and I would appreciate any insight on this.
I removed him from the rest of the flock on Wednesday and gave him water, which he periodically threw up. I noticed that flies were buzzing about him, but I figured that was because of his droppings which were quite moist. On Thursday morning, there were several hundred maggots around him and an hour later he was dead. When I removed him from the chicken tractor, hordes of maggots were writhing in his vent area.
After talking to some other folks and doing research, Boss appears to be a victim of the original ailment that struck him, as well as the flies finishing him off by breeding on him -called Fly Strike. Elaine and I would appreciate any insight on this.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Bear Attacks Chicken Run (Blog 192)
Last week, I wrote about Sweetie Pie's panicked escape and our three-hour search for her. A few days later, Elaine and I learned why the hen and the rest of the flock were acting so stressed last Tuesday.
We found bear paw prints on the compost bin that borders the chicken run, and we also saw where a bruin had bent down the top of one side of the fence, torn off the netting that covers that side, and left claw prints on the wood support. The only thing, we believe, that kept the bear from entering the compound was the fact that it must have been repeatedly shocked by the solar powered fence (two wires about eight inches apart run around the perimeter) as it tried to break in.
The day after the attack, the chickens refused to leave the henhouse and neither Boss nor Johnny crowed. It was as if every bird was trying to hunker down and stay inside for safety. The quartet only came out after much encouragement from me.
We have taken a number of precautions to keep our birds safe in terms of fortifying the run, but nothing we have done has been as important as constructing the solar powered electric fence.
We found bear paw prints on the compost bin that borders the chicken run, and we also saw where a bruin had bent down the top of one side of the fence, torn off the netting that covers that side, and left claw prints on the wood support. The only thing, we believe, that kept the bear from entering the compound was the fact that it must have been repeatedly shocked by the solar powered fence (two wires about eight inches apart run around the perimeter) as it tried to break in.
The day after the attack, the chickens refused to leave the henhouse and neither Boss nor Johnny crowed. It was as if every bird was trying to hunker down and stay inside for safety. The quartet only came out after much encouragement from me.
We have taken a number of precautions to keep our birds safe in terms of fortifying the run, but nothing we have done has been as important as constructing the solar powered electric fence.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The Return of the Prodigal Chicken Hen (Blog 191)
Sunday when our son Mark was visiting, he and I were outside working in the backyard. It was time to put our four heritage Rhode Island Reds back in the run, so I called out "Let's go home" to the quartet, and the chickens immediately walked back inside the enclosure on their own.
Mark expressed amazement at how well trained our chickens were and asked "Do they always behave that well?"
Turns out, the answer is no.
Tuesday, Elaine and I observed the opposite of good behavior in our birds. We let our flock out at 4:00 P.M. and at 5:00, I called out "Let's go home."
Boss, Johnny, and Baby headed back toward the run with Sweetie Pie lagging behind. As the first three reached the doorway, one of the trio gave the alarm cluck which sent Sweetie Pie into full-blown panic. As I shut the door on the lead three chickens, Sweetie Pie ran into the woods to the right of the driveway.
I quickly followed her into the woods, meanwhile calling to her and calling out to Elaine to come help. But this woods was clear cut four years ago and has grown back extremely thick. Soon I lost sight of the hen.
For the next hour we called to Sweetie Pie but she never responded. Our son-in-law David came over and he, Elaine, and I searched in vain. I then had the idea of playing a tape of a rooster crowing, the hope being that Sweetie Pie would come to that sound - a forlorn hope as things evolved.
Then we asked our neighbor Kim and her daughter Sarah to come over with two of their dogs for tracking purposes. That scheme failed as well. I did glimpse Sweetie Pie one time in the thicket, but when I called to her she went the opposite way.
Knowing that Sweetie Pie was unlikely to survive a night in the woods (given all the predators about) and with just about 15 minutes of daylight left, I had one last gambit to play. That is, Elaine and I would continuously circle the clearcut with the hope that Sweetie Pie would panic and begin alarm clucking when she realized that she was all by herself in a darkening woods.
Sure enough, Sweetie Pie did begin alarm clucking, and I ran to the sound. I spotted her through the undergrowth, and deciding that calling would be futile, I scudded toward her. She bolted and I chased her for about 40 yards until I made a leap over a deadfall and ran her down. Tucking her tight to my stomach, I held her firmly as Elaine and I walked back to the chicken run.
We opened the top of the henhouse and deposited Sweetie Pie inside, where Sweetie Pie once again emitted the alarm cluck. Johnny walked over to her and pecked her three times hard on the head.
"Serves her right for misbehaving so much," said Elaine.
Mark expressed amazement at how well trained our chickens were and asked "Do they always behave that well?"
Turns out, the answer is no.
Tuesday, Elaine and I observed the opposite of good behavior in our birds. We let our flock out at 4:00 P.M. and at 5:00, I called out "Let's go home."
Boss, Johnny, and Baby headed back toward the run with Sweetie Pie lagging behind. As the first three reached the doorway, one of the trio gave the alarm cluck which sent Sweetie Pie into full-blown panic. As I shut the door on the lead three chickens, Sweetie Pie ran into the woods to the right of the driveway.
I quickly followed her into the woods, meanwhile calling to her and calling out to Elaine to come help. But this woods was clear cut four years ago and has grown back extremely thick. Soon I lost sight of the hen.
For the next hour we called to Sweetie Pie but she never responded. Our son-in-law David came over and he, Elaine, and I searched in vain. I then had the idea of playing a tape of a rooster crowing, the hope being that Sweetie Pie would come to that sound - a forlorn hope as things evolved.
Then we asked our neighbor Kim and her daughter Sarah to come over with two of their dogs for tracking purposes. That scheme failed as well. I did glimpse Sweetie Pie one time in the thicket, but when I called to her she went the opposite way.
Knowing that Sweetie Pie was unlikely to survive a night in the woods (given all the predators about) and with just about 15 minutes of daylight left, I had one last gambit to play. That is, Elaine and I would continuously circle the clearcut with the hope that Sweetie Pie would panic and begin alarm clucking when she realized that she was all by herself in a darkening woods.
Sure enough, Sweetie Pie did begin alarm clucking, and I ran to the sound. I spotted her through the undergrowth, and deciding that calling would be futile, I scudded toward her. She bolted and I chased her for about 40 yards until I made a leap over a deadfall and ran her down. Tucking her tight to my stomach, I held her firmly as Elaine and I walked back to the chicken run.
We opened the top of the henhouse and deposited Sweetie Pie inside, where Sweetie Pie once again emitted the alarm cluck. Johnny walked over to her and pecked her three times hard on the head.
"Serves her right for misbehaving so much," said Elaine.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Elaine at Quilt Camp (Blog 190)
My students at Lord Botetourt High School often, as the weekend approaches, ask what my wife Elaine and I will be doing. When Elaine goes away to quilt camp as she is doing this week, and I give the students that information, they almost always laugh at the thought of quilters going on a getaway.
As much I miss Elaine when she is away at quilt camp (and she usually goes on four or so of these outings per year), I am thrilled that she can do so. Elaine enjoys so much the camaraderie of the other ladies, plus she is able to work - and receive advice - on her many projects.
Elaine will return around noon on Sunday, and I will be overjoyed to see her. And she will have so much to tell me about the events of the long weekend, how much she learned and accomplished. It is great that she enjoys this hobby.
As much I miss Elaine when she is away at quilt camp (and she usually goes on four or so of these outings per year), I am thrilled that she can do so. Elaine enjoys so much the camaraderie of the other ladies, plus she is able to work - and receive advice - on her many projects.
Elaine will return around noon on Sunday, and I will be overjoyed to see her. And she will have so much to tell me about the events of the long weekend, how much she learned and accomplished. It is great that she enjoys this hobby.
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