The Riley Factor
Fort Plain, NY
February 23, 2012, Issue No. 116
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit-to-print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)
Fort Plain, NY
February 23, 2012, Issue No. 116
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit-to-print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)
Riley and the Littles -- Our newest feline addition, Izzy (two-year old daughter of Stryder and Arwen), who arrived here last fall, has finally taken-up her role as a member of the Rock Creek Cat Club. She now eats with the other three, is no longer afraid of Riley and Gabby, and has taken her first step outdoors (which lasted about three seconds, after which she pulled a u-turn and ran back inside to the warmth of the wood stove). Riley and Gabby are getting-in their daily 1-2 mile runs and spend days contently napping on one floor or another.
Plowing and Planting -- No plowing. No planting. No growing. Winter has arrived. We did pick-up the coming year's oats, rye and barley seed. And Susan started her annual indoor seed starting endeavor, planting pots of seeds for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce and eggplant, all under indoor grow-lighting. This year, Nancy and Susan may run a small vegetable stand to sell our excess harvests.
And They're Off -- After a few days in a row of being cooped-up in their stalls due first to frigid weather and then to muddy pasture from rapid thawing, Rio and Lady finally got back outside on January 31. They rolled over and over in the few inches of fresh snow. Later in the day, the dynamic duo escaped the pasture through an unlatched gate and munched grass in the back yard until we found them, as a result of the dogs barking, calmly grazing in a patch of green near the fire pit.
The Herd of Two -- Eli and Lily are large and content. Lilly's pregnancy is coming along and she has begun to blossom. Due date July 22 or so. Our one deformed turkey who cannot walk (since birth) nests in the stall next to Lily and has taken-up a friendship with her. In the evenings, the bird rests with one wing up on the lower bar of the stall gate and Lily holds her head low, as if the two are discussing the day's trials and tribulations at the bar. The only things missing are a couple of glasses and Sam the bartender.
Mowings, Musings and the Woods -- Not much going-on here on the farm/ranch. We have had only 13 inches of snow all winter, and there hasn't been any white stuff on the ground for weeks. I have not yet had to plow the driveway, roads or trails all winter. We even had a week of temps in the 50s. After a day of 20s and then 35, the rest of the mid-February week was in the high 40s, with overnight lows in the mid 30s. Almost summer. One day, I did the annual pruning of the entire orchard - about 80 trees, including the final 2 old, tall trees that had not been pruned in 30 years. I climbed those and cut the top off of each, reducing the height and branch structure by about 50%. Susan was brave enough to hold onto the tall ladder while I swayed to-and-fro on it, saw in hand. After a year of recovery (this coming year), the heavily pruned pair should produce all their apples, probably 200 or so each, within 8 feet of the ground - easy to pick. We have 5 other old trees in the orchard and back yard that we topped and hard-pruned in 2009. After a bleak 2010, they all produced bushels of tennis-ball and baseball-sized apples in 2011. We even had enough to give away some bushels. The others we ate, made some cider, made apple crisp, and fed to the horses and steers, who all love apples and are not fussy about dents, bruises, scabs, holes and even the occasional small rotten spot, so they take care of all the less-than-perfect fruit.
Fowl Weather -- Our lone remaining French Guinea Hen has taken the role of Queen of the Chickens. Daily, she leads the group of 10-30 chickens around the yard and pasture, serving as primary guard and lookout for the flock of the day. Occasionally, she will fly up onto something higher (fence, picnic table, vehicle, etc.) and survey the birds and yard from a superior lookout point. One day, she stood at the door calmly tapping on the glass to be let in the house. Sorry, no solicitors. Our five white American Broad-breasted turkeys, each now over 20 pounds, do not participate in this folly, and gaze-on in disbelief. The chickens, however, love it, and run for the coop whenever a dog or some wildlife appears and the Queen sounds the alarm. When the Queen believes the day has ended and it is time for dinner in the coop, she walks up to one of our windows and sounds the reminder that there are 50 birds waiting to be fed and locked-up for the night. The chickens are now laying about 20-25 eggs per day, up from their mid-winter low of six or so.
Visitors -- All quiet here in Middle Earth. Stevie stopped-in for a few days visit during winter vacation in February. One afternoon, we traveled to our friend Bradley Chadwick's farm to observe his daily feeding of the deer. Every day around dusk, a couple dozen deer cross Bradley's hay fields and walk up to Bradley's back barn, where he feeds them corn. The day we were there, 15 deer crossed the fields and approached. Four deer walked right up to within 20-30 feet of Bradley. Another dozen deer wandered on to the front and side hay fields within a couple hundred yards of his house. An amazing sight.
Blog -- The Riley Factor's official blog site is located at http://the-riley-factor.
Quotes of the Month --
Detached reflection cannot be demanded in the presence of an uplifted knife. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
Barack Obama thinks that life begins when it can sign-up for entitlements. -- Dennis Miller
I wouldn't let Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi organize a two-car funeral. -- Chris Christie
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. -- Bob Dylan (correction herein acknowledged; previously wrongly attributed to Ben Stein (who was quoting Dylan); error pointed-out by faithful reader, Jimmy Saliba)
Four more years of Obama would virtually bankrupt America. -- Stuart Varney, FOX Business Channel
The people are just plain stupid if they are willing to accept a president or dictator telling them what is 'fair'. Fair is an inexact term, taken within the bounds of established rules. -- Wayne Rogers
Here, we have a two party system. The Democrats are the party of no ideas and the Republicans are the party of bad ideas. You'd be better off if your Congressman just walked up to your front door and pissed on your feet. -- Lewis Black
Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, take your message ... and get the hell out of America. -- Allen West, U.S. Congressman (R-FL), and Lt. Col., U.S. Army (ret.)
While democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint. -- Alexis de Tocqueville
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government arises from too much government. -- Thomas Jefferson
The closer psychologists look at the careers of the gifted, the smaller the role innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play. -- Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers: The Story of Success
California is doing the same thing as Obama is doing, taxing and spending its way to zero growth, following the Jimmy Carter School of Prosperity. -- David Asman, FOX Business Channel
Liberalism is a mental disorder. -- Michael Savage
Facts of the Month --
When Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the U.S. armed forces were the 17th largest in the world, right behind no. 16, Romania. At that time, there was a total of 500,000 members of the U.S. armed forces. By the time WWII reached its height, there were 16 million Americans enlisted across the various branches of our military.
Today, the country in the world with the most English speaking residents ... that's right ... China.
Private sector unionization in America as a percentage of private sector workforce ...
1981 18.7% 2001 8.9% 2011 6.7%
The 2010 U.S. Census recognizes six official races in the U.S. Following is a breakdown by race/ethnicity of the 309 million people living in the U.S., according to the 2010 Census.
White (includes Hispanic and Non-hispanic Latino) 80% (of which 15% are Hispanic or Latino)
Black or African American
Asian
People of two or more races
American Indian and Alaska Native
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders 0.1%
Commentary of the Month --
12 Reasons to Vote Democrat
1. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 43% isn't.
2. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.
3. I voted Democrat because Freedom of Speech is fine, as long as nobody is offended by it.
4. I voted Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers and thieves.
5. I voted Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday can tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in 10 years if I don't start driving a Prius.
6. I voted Democrat because I'm not concerned about millions of babies being aborted, so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.
7. I voted Democrat because I think illegal aliens have a right to free health care, education and Social Security benefits.
8. I voted Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as the Democrats see fit.
9. I voted Democrat because I believe liberal judges need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe groups who would never get their agendas past the voters.
10. I voted Democrat because I think that it's better to pay billions to people who hate us for their oil, but not drill our own because it might upset some endangered beetle or gopher.
11. I voted Democrat because while we live in the greatest, most wonderful country in the world, I was promised "HOPE AND CHANGE".
12. I voted Democrat because my head is so firmly planted up my ass, it's unlikely that I'll ever see the light of day or have another point of view.
NFL --
September 8 ... Green Bay Packers 42, New Orleans Saints 34 / Patriots 38, Dolphins 24
18 ... Green Bay Packers 30, Carolina Panthers 23 / Patriots 35, Chargers 21
25 ... Green Bay Packers 27, Da Bears 17 / Bills 34, Patriots 31
October 2 ... Green Bay Packers 49, Denver Broncos 23 / Patriots 31, Raiders 19
9 ... Green Bay Packers 25, Atlanta Falcons 14 / Patriots 30, Jets 21
16 ... Green Bay Packers 24, St. Louis Rams 3 / Patriots 20, Cowboys 16
(And then there was one)
23 ... Green Bay Packers 33, Minnesota Vikings 27 / Patriots (bye week)
30 ... Green Bay Packers (bye week) / Steelers 25, Patriots 17
November 6 ... Green Bay Packers 45, San Diego Chargers 38 / Giants 24, Patriots 20
13 ... Green Bay Packers 45, Vikings 7 / Patriots 37, Jets 16
20 ... Green Bay Packers 35, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26 / Patriots 34, Chiefs 3
24 ... Green Bay Packers 27, Detroit Lions 15 / Patriots 38, Eagles 20
December 4 ... Green Bay Packers 38, New York Giants 35 / Patriots 31, Colts 24
(Packers clinch NFL North Division Championship)
11 ... Green Bay Packers 46, Oakland Raiders 16 / Patriots 34, Redskins 27
18 ... Kansas City Chiefs 19, Green Bay Packers 14 / Patriots 41, Broncos 23
(oops)
24 ... Green Bay Packers 35, Bears 21 / Patriots 27, Dolphins 24
January 1 ... Green Bay Packers 45, Lions 41 / Patriots 49, Bills 21
8 ... Green Bay Packers (bye) / New England Patriots (bye)
15 ... Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20 / Patriots 45, Broncos 10
22 ... Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
February 5 ... Super Bowl -- Giants 21, Patriots 17
And then there's this --
The Generations Pass
1970: Long hair
2010: Longing for hair
1970: KEG
2010: EKG
1970: Acid rock
2010: Acid reflux
1970: Moving to California because it's cool
2010: Moving to Arizona because it's warm
1970: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor
2010: Trying NOT to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor
1970: Seeds and stems
2010: Roughage
1970: Hoping for a BMW
2010: Hoping for a BM
1970: Going to a new, hip joint
2010: Receiving a new hip joint
1970: Rolling Stones
2010: Kidney Stones
1970: Screw the system
2010: Upgrade the system
1970: Disco
2010: Costco
1970: Parents begging you to get your hair cut
2010: Children begging you to get their heads shaved
1970: Passing the drivers' test
2010: Passing the vision test
1970: Whatever
2010: Depends
And finally, each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year's incoming freshmen. Here's this year's list:
The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1992.
They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.
The CD was introduced 2 years before they were born.
They have always had an answering machine.
They have always had cable.
They cannot fathom not having a remote control..
Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.
Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard: "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "de plane, Boss, de plane.."
They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is..
McDonald's food never came in styrofoam containers.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are.
They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard: "Where's the Beef?", "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "de plane, Boss, de plane.."
They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is..
McDonald's food never came in styrofoam containers.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
