The Riley Factor #72

The Riley Factor June 26, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 26 --
Planting and Plowing -- The hay baler has been transported to Lloyd Vanalstine's for a complete refurbishment.  We'll see how easy it is to find parts for a 50-year old machine.

Riley -- Pick-up 520 -- New game invented by Riley Saturday morning, after he chewed-on a deck of cards.  Dogs-or-Better to open.

The Herd of Five -- First attempt at worming them with Novomectin resulted in Chris being wormed and the cattle laughing to see such sport.  First aid indication on the box says, "If spilled on skin, immediately wash-off thoroughly.  Later, if you feel the urge to moo or eat hay, get to a vet right away."

Fowl Weather -- On Thursday morning, 24 Narragansett Heritage turkey chicks arrived all in good health in a box full of holes, courtesy of the USPS.  Susan says, "They are adorable".  One of the new chicks climbs on a small hay pile in the incubator and sits on it like the emperor on her throne.  The three senior turkeys have taken-up guarding the door to the new chicks' coop.  Beware all those who attempt to pass through this portal.  It turns out that one of the senior three may be a male, having hidden its gender during the period when we had two tom turkeys running the asylum.

The Narragansett Turkey is a heritage breed that was developed by crossing the Eastern Wild Turkey with domestic breeds brought to America by the colonists from England and other parts of Europe.  These are excellent turkeys to raise in free range environments because of their excellent foraging abilities and resourcefulness of eating crickets, grasshoppers and other insects.  It is also enjoyed because of its calm disposition and excellent mothering capabilities.  The good egg production and excellent meat qualities among its other utility traits make it an excellent choice to raise in large or small quantities.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- On Wednesday, Susan saw the world's smallest deer -- about the same size as our late departed Yorkshire Terrier, Jack -- less than two feet tall from hoof to head.  Ephraim arrived Wednesday evening with a ten-ton forklift and loaded the outdoor furnace used by the previous owners onto a flatbed trailer for transport to its new location at Ephraim's house on Tanners Road.  Stevie & Scotty and CJ & Jess will be visiting the NY Compound for Fourth of July weekend.

Quote of the Week -- "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  -  Benjamin Franklin

                              

  "You're gonna need a bigger boat." -- Amity Police Chief Brody to Quint, in the wheel-house of the Orca, in Jaws, 1975