The Riley Factor #82

The Riley Factor Fort Plain, NY
September 19, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

Planting and Plowing -- Monday and Tuesday were spent repairing a tractor, the hay tedder, the hay mower, the combine and the rototiller.  Ahhh, then disking the recently plowed turf in field no. 1, in anticipation of planting the winter red and white semolina wheat before month's end.  Also, the trellis for the grapes in the vineyard began its ascent this week.  Most of the vines are still too small to need a vertical assist, but their time is coming.

Riley -- On Tuesday, Riley spent a couple of hours in the back barn with Ephraim Blank and me and the tools.  Riley is beginning to settle down a bit, now that he has celebrated his first birthday (September 3).  He is still the terror of the turkeys (and keets).

The Herd of Five -- The bovine boys are beginning to look a little nervous ... I think they heard the rumor that one or more may be heading for the butcher this fall.  :-/

Fowl Weather -- The flock of 23 Narragansett turkeys, about 10 weeks old now, follow Susan everywhere, en masse.  When she goes into the house, it is common to see the 23 all standing around, loitering on the patio waiting for her to come back out and play.  (Editor's note: you do not want 23 turkeys standing around any one place anywhere for too long a time).

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Susan and her friend, Annie Kanagy, canned 26 liters of apple sauce on Monday -- made from three-quarters of a bushel of Gala apples.

Quotes of the Week --
          "Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out."
                --Benjamin Franklin
          "God will give me justice."
                --Alexandre Dumas, pere, from the principal character in The Count of Monto Cristo

Fact of the Week (surely to be repeated from time to time) -- The top 1% of U.S. taxpayers pay 40% of all federal taxes paid.
                              

                                                               The top 5% of U,S, taxpayers pay 61% of all federal taxes paid.
                                                                                             50% of American families/taxpayers pay no federal income taxes at all.