After a very bad, long winter, two years ago, with deep snow and very cold temperatures, we lost a lot of local deer and our wild turkeys. From flocks of 20 or more in several areas, we saw no wild turkeys for a whole year. Then, an occasional one. Our old wild turkey hen, who had been coming to the buildings to be fed, and winter over didn’t return. But she’d come for 7 years and was getting old, for a wild turkey. However, this summer, we started to see a few.
First, there was a pair of hens with some half-grown poults. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, we saw another hen with some newly hatched babies and lots of them! Some friends stopped by yesterday and said they saw a big mixed bunch of both nearly grown and smaller poults. That made us really happy. We just wish we could entice them nearer so we could feed them over winter. We’ll keep working on that.
On Friday, David called and invited us to Family Days at Ziegler Cat, where he works. Will was busy working on his haybine but I went. Not as soon as I would have liked, as I was right in the middle of canning green beans, but I got there. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to visit with my granddaughters and Elizabeth, as they had to get home for the kids’ overdue naps. However, I did get to see some amazing equipment! Holy cow is it ever huge. I couldn’t imagine David working on those monsters.
It’s raining today so we’re doing in-the-house stuff that got ignored when we could work outside. Will’s carrying the boxes of canned green beans and Cowboy Candy downstairs, and I’ve got to get to work and clean up the nasty kitchen. It’s amazing how quickly it can go from fairly clean to horrible!
I’m tickled at how nice our Oriental lilies are this year. Every year I plant a few, here and there, even though they’re supposed to be only Zone 4 hardy. But just like our Black Walnut tree, which is bearing nuts this year, they’re thriving. That makes me very happy! — Jackie
As better half is removing invasive trees/plants, we have at least one walnut tree on our house proper property. But on the lots we bought, there are at *least* a dozen walnut trees, maybe more. Told the restoration guy no removing any walnut trees. Even if you don’t harvest for your own consumption, it is a great wildlife food (and yes, we need wildlife).
I feel fortunate my turkeys are doing just fine. Not as many poults as I’d like to see but I suspect more than I’ve seen. For at least the last four years (maybe five, I’d have to scroll through my camera pictures), there has been a set of twin fawns. This year there are TWO sets – I got to see the fawns plus the two does.
Raining here today too – had a half inch in less than an hour right after lunch. Suspect we’ve gotten twice that so far this evening.
Amazing to see what is truly heavy equipment.