The Riley Factor #76

The Riley Factor August 15, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, August 15 --

VACATION EXTRA >>>>> Susan just returned from a one week vacation trip to Big Valley, Pennsylvania, with some Amish friends.  She spent the days visiting over two dozen Amish families and was the talk of the barn raisings.  She said the valley is enormous and strikingly beautiful.

Following that up, CJ and Chris just completed a western road trip, covering over 5,200 miles in 12 days.  First stop was a day at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in Green Bay (actually 85 degrees and sunny on August 1).  Then on to the Devil's Tower, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Deadwood, Cody, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Cheyenne, Dodge City, Kansas City and Gettysburg.  Along the route, we passed through Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Sioux Falls, Denver, Columbus, Scranton and what seemed like millions of square miles of endless corn, wheat, soy and sunflower fields.  One lady told us that if we actually drove past Johnston, Wyoming, we would fall off of the edge of earth -- which was believable.  A great time was had, and CJ drove all 5,212 miles in his Jeep Wrangler.
Planting and Plowing -- the 3/4th acre of semolina (soft white pastry wheat) was combined on this past Wednesday.  CJ got his first taste of the farming life, helping Chris and Susan, without significant incident.  About 900 pounds were produced by the combine, bagged and moved into the upper barn for storage.  Next up, combining the wheat, oats and buckwheat (about an acre of each).  And a second cutting of the upper hay field is also in the offing, perhaps along with haying the deerfield.

Riley -- The golden one has finally started to calm down a bit.  He goes for a two mile run with us (in a vehicle of some sort) twice daily, and includes at least one pond swim in the middle of each outing.  He did make an unauthorized visit once, and was retrieved from Lloyd Vanalstine's front steps late Thursday evening.

The Herd of Five -- The steer spent their second unauthorized night outside on Saturday night, refusing to come into the barn for the evening feeding.  No incidents to report.  Just after dawn, they were all found outside under the barn overhang sleeping in the hay.  We weighed the three Holstein's this week -- Gabe was the winner at 900 pounds, with Eli coming in at 730, and Zeke trailing at a frail 300 (although he was only born this past February 13, while the other two were each born last September).  We estimate the Dexters each at about 600-700 pounds.

Fowl Weather -- The Keets are not chickens -- but they should consider some behavior modification.  Apparently, French Guinea Fowl are not as smart or quick as their barnyard fowl friends, the Jersey Giants and Rhode Island Red/Cornish Rock Hen crossbred chickens.  Four of the Keets have been hit by traffic in the past month, reducing the Keet flock to a mere dozen.  None of our chickens have ever been a traffic fatality, and we have had as many as 100 of them on site here at the NY Compound.  In a related story, the young Narragansett turkeys are now allowed outside, free to roam during daylight hours.  The flock of 23 young turkeys stick closely together as a group and venture as far as 100 yards from the barn.  Susan is their Queen, and the turkeys follow her every move, refusing to leave her side until she escapes.
Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Many deer have been seen recently prowling the fields and trails.  Including a just-born fawn that stood no more than two feet high at the head.  Also, the great blue heron has returned to the lower pond, with occasional trips to the watering hole in the pasture.  Regardless of how long you stare at a heron, it does not appear flight-worthy, despite its five foot wingspan and long stick-like legs.  But somehow, when the urge is there, it manages to take flight after some considerable effort.

Quote of the Week -- "Honesty may not be the best policy, but it is worth trying at least once in a while." -- Richard M. Nixon -- Particularly appropriate and relevant in today's world for all parties currently serving in the U.S. Congress, and especially for President Obama and his band of minions in the Executive Branch.