Life on the Ranch with Jackie

Whew -  I am out of breath (hard for fat old Polish Woman to convince the body it can run like a 16 year old) and have to take a break….

It is that time of year again when the wildlife and other things start STIRRING around these parts.

I mentioned a while back about the two egg suckin’ dogs that killed one of the hens -  had another dream last night about the one that ran under my van and I couldn’t get a shot at it.  I had dreamt of dogs getting the chickens the night or so before the dead chicken act so I am on high alert for any *noise* outside right now.

We have also had signs of a coon making itself at home here at night.  We set up the large coon trap (and, no, AKA didn’t go for the bait) and I baited it night before last -  hmm  bait gone but door didn’t trip to catch it….. and, the entire trap was relocated about 4 feet and on it’s side that morning.  So, I figures we got us a smarter than average coon to deal with.

Last night I put the bait in one of those long produce plastic bags, cut a few holes to let the smell get out and then dripped some fish oil over it all.  I then put it in the trap and wove the ends thru the cage bottom and side – making that coon have to work for the bait and hopefully set off the trigger for the door.  My next trick was to make sure that coon couldn’t kick the trap over like it had the night before.  I took one of the picnic benches and set it over the top of the trap making it hard to move it.  AHA, says I last night -  I’ve got that coon now for sure.

Woke up this morning and looked out the window to see the trap obviously had been moved -  too far to see if there was anything in the trap.  So got my shoes on and went out there..  trap not tripped – bait gone (found the remains of the sack in between some hay rounds) and the trap was moved about a foot with the bench still on it.

Well I have to outsmart that coon – and I will   -  Tonight is another coon trappin’ night….  Now you see how I spend my evenings  :)   Days watching for egg suckin’ dogs and night for strong and smart coons.

I came in for some coffee and email – heard Chester and a hen (Chester is the beautiful Wellsummer Rooster) making all sorts of racket.  Thinking it might be those dogs I jumped up and  ran out with gun in hand -  hmm  no dogs – all looks fine – so back inside.  Then I happened to look out the office window to see one of the older male calves on this side of the fence – chomping away on all that nice grass.  Ok -  grab the broom and the cattle rattle paddle and out I go to herd him back towards the feed pen.  He is pretty good sized and isn’t scared of me and my *herding tools* -  he charges at me and I holler at him, shaking the herding *tools*.  He stops for a bit and then starts running down to the pond -   NO NO NO NO NO  I do not want to walk thru the growing hay (thinking  SNAKES) to go after him.  But I put my fear aside as I am now on a MISSION to get that bull calf back up to the *yard* so I can herd him to the gate.  Finally got him back up and went to open the big gate to herd him thru but by this time all the commotion has the rest of the herd heading to the feed pen thinking I am going to give them some grain.  Can’t open the gate now because I’ll have the entire herd in the yard and the Bossman would NOT be happy about that.

I tried calling the Bossman – no answer.  So, I am out of breath – tired of playing Cowgirl without a horse and rope – and have decided that as long as that calf stays up here he can stay out until the Bossman returns later.

That is my morning – so far…..    and I still have all that backed up email to try to get thru.

oh forgot to mention -  the nice cool weather I have been enjoying is no more — – 80′s + are to be the norm from here to next winter I am told.  Since I am not a Hot Weather girl I am going to have to get used to the A/C – which I am not crazy about but I wouldn’t survive in Texas without it.

Just thought I would share my morning with readers -  I do a lot more than sit in front of this computer….    Oh, I also transplanted about 7 starts from pink grapefruit seeds.  If you haven’t grown a grapefruit plant from seeds you are missing some fun.  They make great houseplants and they do get BIG.   Had one in Centralia that the previous owners left because it was too big to move.  Another fun plant is from a sweet potato -  it will vine all over the place -  cheap and easy house plants.

Jackie Juntti
Living in OCCUPIED AMERICA under the rule of lunatics who were let out of the asylums.