The Riley Factor #85

The Riley Factor Fort Plain, NY
October 27, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

Visitors -- Many of you remember Moritz, our German Italian foreign exchange student from 1999-2000.  Well, his parents, Uschi & Achem, made a long-awaited visit to Middle-of-Nowhere on the tail-end of a whirlwind tour around America that began a few weeks ago at a NATO pilots reunion in San Diego (Achem flew fighters for NATO for 20 years, before retiring in the 1990's in favor of painting and drinking red wine and German beer).  After Susan toured Uschi and Achem around New England for a few days, the threesome arrived in Fort Plain for a few days relaxation before Uschi and Achem flew back to Sardinia.  A good time was had by all.

Planting and Plowing -- We found one last farming thing to do before the snow flies -- on Oct. 20, we fertilized the newest hay field, six acres in the lower half of Field No. 3.  Got the John Deere tractor stuck in the mud in the middle of the nearby rye field, while getting rid of the last of the fertilizer, and had to walk back a half mile to get another tractor and pull the Deere out with chains.  Some fun, while Susan was away touring with the Gottschalks.

Riley -- His energy geometrically increases with his age.  I soon see Riley becoming a nuclear power.  If he survives the day.

The Herd of Five -- Mooing on.  A simple group.  Content.  They refused to come into the barn one night.  I went down to their stalls for a final check around midnight and found the five-some all laying down in a tight circle right outside the barn door.  They were mooing, not moving, and declined to get up.  So I declined to waste any more time on their evening comfort.  All was fine by morning.
 
Fowl Weather -- The turkeys have taken to roosting on our Jeep, a ridiculous sight, covering almost all of the horizontal surfaces.  The Jeep barely accommodates the 20 of them.  But I have evidence.  Trust me though, you don't want to see it.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Hawks abound over the upper fields and edge of the woods.  With an occasional vulture or two.  Great to watch them soaring.  And the deer sightings are picking-up, no doubt before the hiding begins with the opening of deer hunting season in mid-November.  The wild turkeys have not yet exhaled, since their hunting season runs from October 1 to November 19.

Quotes of the Week -- Our Forefathers Speak

   The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson

   Laws that forbid the carrying of arms..disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed one." - Thomas Jefferson

   The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing. - John Adams

   To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones. - George Washington

   There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet an enemy. - George Washington

   I appeal to you again to constantly bear in mind that with you, and not with politicians, not with Presidents, not with office-seekers, but with you, is the question, "Shall the Union and shall the liberties of this country be preserved to the latest generation?" - Abraham Lincoln

The Pledge to America -- The New Republican Agenda -- America is more than a country.  America is an idea – an idea that free people can govern themselves, that government’s powers are derived from the consent of the governed, that each of us is endowed by their Creator with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America is the belief that any man or woman can – given economic, political, and religious liberty – advance themselves, their families, and the common good.   America is an inspiration to those who yearn to be free and have the ability and the dignity to determine their own destiny.  Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute a new governing agenda and set a different course.

The Riley Factor #84

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

Planting and Plowing -- Done for the year.  Equipment is in the barn.  Some oiling, greasing and painting in process.

Riley -- The Golden Boy is running and still swimming daily.  He still chases the turkeys and chickens within an inch of their lives, but it is a love/hate relationship.  When the birds run (that's right, run not fly) away, they move about five feet -- not exactly fleeing for their lives.  And Riley runs about four feet, not exactly chasing down his dinner.

The Herd of Five -- Word on the pasture is that one or more of the herd may be heading for the butcher this fall.  Makes for a nervous barn.  All are doing well, with Gabe and Eli each near 1,000 pounds, and the Dexter brothers not far behind.  Zeke the Bull is still a waif, at under 400 pounds, including horns.
 
Fowl Weather -- Although only 20 weeks old, some of the Jersey Giant chickens have laid their first few eggs.  A few of the roosters, at about 6-8 pounds, recently made a trip to the butcher, and (presumably) are enjoying their new life n the freezer..  That leaves about 25 hens to lay eggs and a couple of roosters to organize and patrol the hen house.  The 17 remaining RI Red/Cornish Hen crossbreeds are each still happily laying an egg a day.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Leaves have changed colors.  Many have fallen.  Scenery is beautiful.

Quote of the Week -- .
                             Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.                                                                  President John F. Kennedy

The Riley Factor #83

The Riley Factor Fort Plain, NY
October 4, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

Planting and Plowing -- Susan spent Monday and Tuesday rototilling the first field and planting the winter wheat -- two acres of white semolina and an acre and a half of hard red.  Added 400 pounds of triple-15 fertilizer per acre, so the wheat will require virtually no attention until it is ready for combining next August.  Result next summer should be three to four tons of wheat.  We took this year's wheat to a grain house down the road and they cleaned the wheat and put it in stiched 60-pound bags - now all stacked in the barn for use.  We also put down 100 pounds per acre of the fertilizer on the 15 acres of hay fields, so those are all set for winter.

Riley -- Riley made a new friend this past weekend with Paisley, a year-and-a-half old Jack Russell Terrier/Beagle mix, owned by Samantha, one of CJ's friends.  CJ and peeps, James, Brooksie, Samantha and Alex, were in town for a 3k warrier road race that had a dozen or so obstacles on the cross country course, including were such stations such as running through fire, crossing a 5-foot deep water hole, crawling in mud under barbed wire, etc.  All survived and finished the course.  This weekend through tomorrow, the identical twins, Barbara and Betty, along with Betty's 84 year old 'boyfriend' Larry, are spending a few days visiting.

The Herd of Five -- The steers have a new habit -- they have refined their palates and when they leave the barn in the morning they stop, look up at the second floor hay door and moo until Susan drops a bale of the recently baled second cutting hay.

Fowl Weather -- Inexplicably, one of the 23 turkeys was found dead in the coop last Saturday morning.  We rounded-up the usual suspects and threatened the rubber hose treatment, but concluded natural causes was the culprit.  The remaining 22 Narragansetts are roaming free along with the 17 red RI/Cornish hens and the 31 black Jersey Giant chickens.  The turkeys have become accustomed to heights, spending time each day in the workshop over the garage and in the rafters over the top floor in the barn.  Plenty of turkey pooping is involved.  The Jersey Giants, now about four months old, are just starting to lay eggs.  Late breaking story: one turkey took-on a vehicle on route.  Result: now 21 turkeys are roaming freely ...

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Susan and her friend Annie canned 13 gallons of grape juice on Wednesday -- made from three bushels of concord grapes.

Quotes of the Week -- All from the late, great Vince Lombardi (1913-1970), over the years --

  Fatigue makes cowards of us all.

  I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

  If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?

  If you can accept losing, you can't win.

  It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.

  Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.

  Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.

  Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser.

  The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.

  The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.

  The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.

  The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

  The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.

  Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything.

NFL Update -- The Packers are back where they rightfully should be, in first place (tied with Da Bears) in the NFC Central Division.  The Patriots are no doubt heading for a train wreck in Miami, on tonight's Monday Night Football.  This just in -- Aaron Rodgers is certainly one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL -- no room for Peytonn Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees to join Rodgers in that Exclusive Club -- you pick the other two.

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.

The Riley Factor #81

The Riley Factor Fort Plain, NY
September 12, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

A Football Aside (a mere brief diversion) -- Are you ready for some football> -- Hey, the NFL started this week.  Several of the football pundits at FOX, CBS and ESPN picked those Green bay Packers to win this season's Superbowl -- very wise, very wise.  Alphabetical others notably picked to win it all by some of the less perceptive football geniuses were the Colts, Patriots, Ravens and Saints.  And everyone predicted great seasons to be had by quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.  I guess it's time to play the games.

Planting and Plowing -- Ahhh ... nothing better than the aroma of aged manure spread on the fields before plowing to give one the true sense of farming.  Well, really, I can think of several things better.  We spent Labor Day spreading aged manure over field no. 1, in preparation of planting the winter wheat.  Then we plowed the fields under, to be followed in the next week or so by disking and planting.

Riley -- Craving his runs around the place these days.  Riley gets-in two or three runs daily, a mile-and-a-half each or so.  He is taking the lead more often and rarely wanders off course.

The Herd of Five -- We may decide to butcher one or more of the steer this fall.  No final decision yet.  Leading candidates and weights are Gabe @ 900-1000 lbs., Eli @ 700-800 lbs., and each of the two Dexters at 600-700 lbs. apiece.  Only Zeke the bull has immunity for now, owing to his skinny 300 lb. frame.  This too shall change.

Fowl Weather -- We're building a new outdoor coop for the turkeys, outside of their indoor coop.  It will be 12'x36' in size and six feet high -- we will have to clip the 23 pair of wings to prevent escape by flight.  Construction schedule still up in the air.  Those same 23 turkeys all escaped en masse on Saturday into the workshop over the garage.  After several house in the Tool House, they each waddled to the upstairs doorway and one-by-one jumped like skydivers flying (sort of) to about half way to the road before hard-landing on the side lawn next to the barn.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- While moving the second field, which takes about eight hours to complete, large black hawks, smaller red-tailed hawks and some other bird of prey, probably vultures, were constantly overhead, circling for small prey to be scared into the open by the tractor/mower/me.  Very interesting to watch -- several times, they did get to within 10 feet of the tractor seat, but don't appear threatening at all.  Usually, they cruise 20 to 50 feet overhead.

Separately, Susan encountered a buzzing mound of honey bees on one of the main trails Wednesday afternoon -- a pile a foot or foot-and-a-half in diameter and 4-5 inches high -- consisting of nothing but thousands of bees piled on top of one another.  No idea as to the reason or purpose for this.  We do have a large honey bee nest out back, in the edge of the woods. about 200 feet from this bee pile and about 100 feet from the upper pond, which has been there all summer, without any events to report.  We saw the bee-mound again on Saturday -- a bit unsettling to say the least.

Quotes of the Week --

I do not like this Uncle Sam,

I do not like his health care scam.

I do not like these dirty crooks,

or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals,

I do not like their secret deals.

I do not like this speaker, Nan , 

I do not like this 'YES WE CAN.'

I do not like this spending spree,

I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.

I do not like your smug replies,

when I complain about your lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.

I do not like it, nope, nope, nope!

                              

                                                                                                      Anonymous

The Riley Factor #80

The Riley Factor Fort Plain, NY
September 6, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

Labor Day Visitors -- Roger, Carol and Cindy Slate spent a couple of days of Labor Day Weekend at the NY Compound.  With great success, the accompanying kids, Sebrina and Brittany, spent two days coaxing the senior chickens to lay more eggs.  Although their specific methods went unobserved, the results could not be ignored with the 17 egg-laying hens producing over three dozen eggs in a 24-hour period.  When not singing to and cuddling the red hens, the girls were swimming in the lower pond and playing with the 23 young turkeys and, of course, the five bovines.
Planting and Plowing -- The second cutting of hay was completed last Wednesday and is in the barn, with 120 bales stacked and salted.  Mowing, some plowing, some disking and the fall farm work begins.  Susan harvested about three-quarters of the tobacco and hung it in the greenhouse for drying.  Still have potatoes, tomatoes and peppers to harvest.  And winter wheat to plant.

Riley -- Riley has become the model citizen in car rides.  Sitting quietly looking out the windows, with his favorite position being riding shotgun next to the driver.  Looks a bit ridiculous as he rides around town sitting patiently and surveying the surroundings.

The Herd of Five -- The Fearsome Fivesome loves the newly cut hay.  After getting a few bales of it, they were returned to reality and eating through the remaining 600 bales of last year's remaining forage.  On Labor Day, when Susan filled the outside feeder with the old stuff, the herd turned the feeder upside-down in protest.  "Free the Fort Plain Five", they mooed in protest as they left the feeder area in ruins.

Fowl Weather -- Adding a formal outside pen for the turkeys and chickens is the first fall project to begin the journey to fruition.  Designed to be about 12' by 36' and six feet high, should be completed in a week or two.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Oops.  While mowing around the upper pond, I wasn't paying enough attention and hit a 25-foot tall white pine tree, about 8 inches in diameter, with the corned of the bucket loader and flattened the tree -- snapped it off right at ground level.  On the bright side -- slightly improved view and firewood anyone?

Quotes of the Week -- "Liberal environmentalists don't care anything about people.  They are all about 'Save the Whales' and 'Abort the Fetuses'." -- Laura Ingraham, Fox News, 9/2/10.

                              

     "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." -- Proverbs 22:6

The Riley Factor #79

The Riley Factor August 30 , 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, August 30  --

Goodbye, Farewell, It's time to Say Adieu ... to Pauline and The Donald Michaud.  Thursday night, family members and friends gathered at Pheasant Hill in Agawam to wish success and happiness to Pauline and Don, who have decided to pick-up and move to Tuscon.  Bags are packed, vehicles are loaded, and the train pulls out of the New England station for all points west on Sunday morning, August 29.  All the best go out to the happy couple about to embark on life's next big journey.

Planting and Plowing -- A bit of mowing, some plowing, some disking and the fall farm work has begun.  Not long before it will be over for another year.  Still have potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and tobacco to harvest.  And winter wheat to plant.  And the final hay cutting of the year to make.

Riley -- If you really want a taste of the experience of Life with Riley, see the movie Marley & Me (2008, Twentieth Century Fox, Owen Wilson, Jennifer Anniston, currently running on HBO).  Although Marley is a Yellow Lab and Riley is a Golden, the two breeds are very similar, and Marley and Riley have the same, let's say, zest for life.  This Hollywood blockbuster (well, perhaps straight to video B- flick) film captures the entire essence of Life with Riley.  Chewed stuff not meant to be chewed, diving into pools of water where no one should swim, jumping up on people who don't fully appreciate the excitement of a 90-pound dog meeting a new acquaintance head-on at 20 mph, "I didn't notice that he chewed through the leash" episodes one after another, etc.  A good time is had by all; well, at least is had by Marley and Riley.

The Herd of Five -- Cutest photo op of the week was Zeke, our 300-pound bull calf, napping under the overhang near the barn, with two of the red chickens standing on top of him -- all three at peace.

Fowl Weather -- The French Guinea Fowls declining numbers continue, with nine of the squawking prowlers remaining.  Eventually, one hopes that they get the idea that in the game of Car Versus Bird, car wins.  On the positive front, Queen Susan has trained 23 two-month old turkeys to come when called.  They follow her around like Red Sox fans follow Big Papi.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Ponds are still overfull and streams are still flowing heavily from last Sunday's torrential rains.  But the basement is now empty of its six-inches of water and the town's fire alarm has stopped going-off every hour.

Quote of the Week -- "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." -- Winston Churchill

The Riley Factor #78

The Riley Factor August 25 , 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, August 25  --

The Rains -- This past Sunday, we got six inches of rain here in beautiful Fort Plain.  And six inches of water in our basement.  Our drainage culvert, which runs parallel to the house and carries the water run-off from the fields down to the street culvert, breached its boundaries, and we had a 15-foot wide stream of sorts running across our front yard and driveway.  All is fine here now, owing to a couple of pumps running all night in the basement and emptying the swimming-pool-to-be.  We saw some wicked flooding in and around town.  One house, its breezeway and garage had a stream turned river flowing right through it, across the front yard and across Route 163 in a 100-foot-wide swath.  When we drove past, the owners were standing in front of the house in six inches of flowing water in the middle of the street on the double yellow line.  Rock Creek, our little creek after which our farm is named, is dry most of the year or at least runs very, very little.  Our pasture fence is built right over the creek, about 20 yards from Route 163, under which the creek flows through a 4-5 foot in diameter pipe.  After a typical torrential rain storm, the creek might widen to 15-20 feet and perhaps a foot deep for a few hours due to storm run-off.  We have experienced this many times.  Last evening, the creek had swelled to 75 feet wide and was so deep it flowed through and right over the top of the pasture fence.

Planting and Plowing -- Harvesting is done for the year, except for the remaining tomatoes, potatoes and tobacco.  Soon fields will again be plowed and disked, and the hard red and soft white winter wheat will be planted.

Riley -- Allegedly a hunting hound of sorts, Riley spends part of each daily run/walk pursuing rabbits and other little furry creatures.  To date, Riley is being shut out.  A good thing.

The Herd of Five -- Grazing in the pasture, mooing, nibbling on hay bales, slurping some water, pooping ... the life of cattle is not a diverse one.

Fowl Weather -- We sold 20 of the black Jersey Giant chickens, which were about three months old, so now the chicken flock is back to a manageable level at 49 ... 31 remaining Jersey Giants and 18 of the Cornish Rock Hen/RI Red crossbreeds.  On the turkey front, for some reason, the 23 young turkeys, which are about two months old and just learning what their wings are for, decided to fly up into the top rafters in the barn one evening last week.  No explanation offered.  They refused Queen Susan's pleas to return to the planet surface, resulting in their spending a night up over the hay in the rafters above the top floor of the barn.  Fortunately, one night was enough for this adventure.
Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- The most civilized of the logging roads has finally been cleared and pruned to allow even the least hardy sole to traverse via ATV or Ute a half mile into and out of the darkest parts of the woods without feeling like their face is being constantly whacked by brush.  Sorry, but your butt will still feel like you've been in the saddle driving cattle for a week, but, hey, you can't have everything.

Quote of the Week -- "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Riley Factor #77

The Riley Factor August 21, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, August  21 --
Planting and Plowing -- An acre each of barley and oats were combined this week and stored in the barn, to be used as cattle feed.  The oldest member of Rock Creek Farm, the huge Oliver grain combine, continues to chug along without too much repair being called for.  And the second oldest member of the farm family, the New Holland baler, put-up more bales of straw into the barn from the remnants of the semolina wheat harvested a couple of weeks ago.

Riley -- Moving up to three runs per day through the trails and fields to have energized the golden one

The Herd of Five -- A round-em-up rodeo has become virtually a nightly feature in the pasture, as the Holsteins and Dexters enjoy being chased by Susan on an ATV round and round before settling in on a track into the barn.  They each take a turn or two first confronting the ATV head on, and then running away before turning around to fight another time.  Thus far, no head-on charges have resulted in collision.  But Gabe at 900 lbs. and Eli at 730 lbs. each outweigh the ATV and rider, so cowgirl beware.

Fowl Weather -- The Keets flock continues its self-appointed route toward the endangered species list.  Two more were lost to traffic this week, leaving their numbers at 10, down from their starting point of 16.  And one of those 10 has a broken leg, presumabnly from surviving a bump with some 55mph vehicle.  They need all to consider some behavior modification.  And fast.
Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Susan and her Amish sisters harvested a few quarts of blackberries from the berry patches in the woods, and Susan has untertaken to turn them into blackberry wine.  Stay tuned.  And good thing the haqrvesting was done in daylight, as we heard a large pack of coyotes in the trails and we chased them back into the woods early Saturday evening.  No idea what we would have done had we actually caught them, but leave that matter for another day.

Tales from Hank Burton (and of your government at work) -- Hank Burton is a wonderful man, now in his 70s, and has been riding the seat of a bulldozer for over 50 years.  He did all the excavation that we needed for construction of the barns and drainage of the fields.  He stops in every few weeks to talk.  Although he considers himself 'retired', he still owns and operates an excavation company that does work all around the area, including most of the building of Dream Parks, the national baseball camp in Cooperstown.  He stopped-in last Monday for a chat.  Well, the other day, he pulled his pick-up into his driveway, and was followed in by a white pick-up driven by a woman from the IRS, who had followed him from seeing him somewhere out on the roads.  She handed him a copy of an Internal Revenue Code Section that authorized her to check the fuel in any/all of his trucks, cars, equipment, storage tanks, etc.  After selecting two pick-ups to test (not including the one that Hank had been driving), she announced that one of the pick-ups had the wrong fuel in its tank (cheaper farm diesel; as opposed to road diesel that is sold at a price including all the familiar federal and state road taxes).  Hank explained that that truck was an old one used almost exclusively off road, and had just returned from an 8-day project building a 5-acre pond for a client.  Just that morning, they had run the truck's tank down to almost empty and filled it with road diesel at a gas station in Milford.  No matter, it still contained some farm diesel in it, and it did carry NY license plates on it, so that violation would cost Hank a $1,000.00 fine.  So that is your grand federal government at work -- fining/taxing a 70+ year old small business $1,000 under some arcane law that would not allow even a gallon of farm diesel fuel mixed in a 30-gallon tank containing road diesel.  This while Obama wastes millions of tax dollars going on a half dozen vacations around the world each year and while his minions (guys like Timothy Geitner, Charles Grassley, Barney Frank and others) can't seem to pay their taxes and are excused from bothering to obey other federal laws.

Quote of the Week -- To live is Christ, to die is gain. -- the Bible, Book of Corinthians
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Heartfelt condolences to Hank Burton and Family, on the tragic death of their son, Jimmy, who was killed last Tuesday in a logging accident.

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.

The Riley Factor #75

The Riley Factor July 21, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, July 21 --

EXTRA, EXTRA >>>>> Stevie's & Scott's big wedding bash went off as planned on, Saturday, July 17.  Israel and Annie Kanagy watched Rock Creek Farm while were in Eastern Massachusetts -- big thanks to them.  Stevie did a remarkable job in planning the wedding (one man's unbiased opinion).  And what a great bridal party, everyone was so helpful with all the details, not to mention the impromptu singing and dancing during and after the ceremony.  We had a great time, and Stevie and Scott landed on Maui on Sunday evening for their honeymoon in Hawaii.
Planting and Plowing -- The wheat is closing-in on time for the harvest.  Golden waves throughout, still not quite dry enough for combining.  Should be good to go soon, weather permitting.  Ephraim Blank is giving the combine a once over to be sure it is ready for the 2010 season.  And, after a couple of weeks under the care and feeding of Lloyd Vanalstine, the recently acquired hay baler us up and running.

Riley -- Apparently, Riley has just discovered that he has a tail.  Question: What kind of dog waits 10 months and then begins chasing his tail, making this fruitless task a daily preoccupation?  Answer: The Riley.

The Herd of Five -- Susan had to round up the Herd of Five the other evening by chasing them on an ATV from up on the highlands.  She was laughing so hard that she caused a mini stampede while Lloyd and I looked on.  The two Dexters entered the barn at about 20 miles per hour.  Good thing those 500-pound steer have brakes.  The three Holsteins wandered in when they were good and ready.

Fowl Weather -- The Keets have gone on strike a couple of evenings, refusing to get back into their 'luxurious' quarters in the barn.  The inmates think that they are running the asylum ... now, where did I put my 12-gauge?
Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- One evening this week, Susan and Chris chased a flying brown bat around the kitchen for 5-10 minutes, before a well-placed swing of the broom knocked it out the door and onto the patio.  Even with the passing of a  few decades, that old high Agawam High School baseball talent still prevails.  Mighty Casey has not struck out.

Casey at the Bat By Ernest Lawrence Thayer Taken From the San Francisco Examiner - June 3, 1888

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day; The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play, And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast; They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that — We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat." But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, And the former was a hoodoo, while the latter was a cake; So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat; For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat. But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all, And Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball; And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred, There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third. Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell; It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell; It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat, For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat. There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place; There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face. And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat, No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat. Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt. Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt. Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip. And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air, And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there. Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped — "That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one!" the umpire said. From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar, Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore; "Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some one on the stand; And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand. With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone; He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on; He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew; But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said "Strike two!" "Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered "Fraud!" But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed. They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain, And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again. The sneer has fled from Casey's lip, the teeth are clenched in hate; He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate. And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go, And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow. Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright, The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.

Quote of the Week -- "We are all architects of our own destiny." -- Gigi Gaston
                              

  "Being right is not the same as doing good.: -- Anonymous

The Riley Factor #74

The Riley Factor July 11, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, July 11 --
Planting and Plowing -- The wheat fields are all golden brown -- waiting for the heads to drop and then it will be combining time.  And then time for baling some straw for bedding.  The barley, buckwheat, oats and rye are in mid-season form.

Riley -- Riley's new high-fashion electronic training collar is making a marked improvement in his behavior.

The Herd of Five -- All is well in cattle-land.  Herd is happy now that the heat wave has passed.

Fowl Weather -- Jersey Giants at nearly two months of age are the same size as our mature egg-laying Rhode Island Red/Cornish Rock Hen crossbreeds at a year or two old.  The Keets (French Guinea Hens) are a traveling band of 16, each never more than a foot or two from their nearest brethren.
Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Mid-summer mowings are all complete.  Trails are dry.  Ongoing project to re-open some of the logging roads in the woods continues when time permits.  On July fourth, Scott, CJ and Chris spent a few hours in the woods, for the first ti\me marking and posting the north property line.  Felt like we were wandering through the jungles of Southeast Asia, without any bullets flying by.  We are seeing deer on most evening trail rides.

And it doesn't seem possible, but 27 years ago, on a cold and sunny January afternoon, little Stevie was born into our lives in St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, and next Saturday, she marries Scott.  Where has all that time gone?

Quote of the Week -- “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free” (Goethe).

The Riley Factor #73

The Riley Factor July 4, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, July 4 --
Planting and Plowing -- All quiet these days -- growing season.

Riley -- ... is in the dog house.  Literally.  Last Sunday, he dug my money clip out of my brief case and chewed-up a few hundred dollars.  After an hour of puzzling, I had it all taped back together.  We'll have to see if the bank agrees ...  Does spelling really count? ... 'In Gd We Trst' ... here in the 'Unted States of merica'!

The Herd of Five -- The steer are becoming a bit rambunctious these days, especially Gabe and Eli, the oldest Holsteins.  We hope that an early trip to the butcher is not in order for one or both of them.

Fowl Weather -- Several of the little Jersey Giant Chickens have escaped and now wander around like they own the place.  They are far too quick to catch, so it is up to each of them as to whether or not they get back into the barn at dusk.
Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Sign me into the seen small deer club -- on Monday, I came across a doe with a fawn that was less than two feet high at the head, probably 25 pounds in all, and no larger than a small dog with too-long legs.  Both were fairly calm, and trotted off after a minute or so.

July 4 Weekend -- All the 'kids', Stevie, CJ, Scott and Jess, visited us in NY this weekend.  Great Fort Plain July 4th on the 3rd Festival.  Great fireworks and a grand time was had by all.  The countdown to Stevie's and Scott's wedding is in full launch mode ... T minus 13 days and counting.
Quote of the Week -- "Hope is not a strategy." - Anonymous
                                "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by.  And that has made all the difference." --
                              

            Robert Frost, The Road not Taken

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

The Riley Factor #71

The Riley Factor June 22, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 22 --
Planting and Plowing -- The hay is in the barn.  After four days of cutting, tedding, raking and baling,under a very cooperative sunny and dry sky,  252 bales of a blend of timothy, alfalfa, rye and clover were stacked in the barn, and field no. 4 no longer looks like the lawn belonging to your neighbor-who-mows-his-yard-

every-third-Wednesday.

Riley -- Becoming a bit more civilized, the now nearly 10-month-old loves sleeping on the cold stone tile of the kitchen floor.  That and torturing the three cats occupy most of his day.  Along with his daily swims in each pond.

The Herd of Five -- There is yet another addition to the NY compound menagerie -- when we were stacking the hay, Ephraim Blank and Chris saw a large rat scurry across the barn upstairs floor, abandoning one comfortable rat's den for another to be determined.  He looked happy and healthy, with a perfect light gray fur coat.  But he is, after all, a rat.  Where is the Riley when you need him?  No doubt, lounging in the kitchen.

Fowl Weather -- The Keets are hilarious.  They are now weighing-in at about two pounds each, and now bravely venture a bit outside of their coop.  But, they never separate from one another, always seen as a close knit traveling pack of 16, never straying more than an inch or two from their nearest fellow French Guinea hen.  It looks as if they are claw-cuffed to each other by tiny sets of handcuffs, all moving in unison.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Deer are being seen with increasing frequency on most evening drives through the trails, and the wild turkeys have returned, now that the month-of-May turkey hunting season has passed.  The other day, Chris raced one large gobbler from the middle of a hay field to the safety of the woods.  The turkey had to cheat in order to win, moving his point of escape further and further until he could get there before the Ute.  Little bastard -- but don't worry, the month of May will come around again.

Quote of the Week -- "When you think 'Obama', think weak and ineffective".  C Fuchs, April 2009
                                "When you think 'Obama', think incompetent and dishonest.",  C Fuchs, June 2010
                                "People who were duped by the liberal media into voting for Obama because the media was so intent on inflicting Socialism on the American people are now seeing what a bumbling incompetent president that Obama is.", Sean Hannity, June 18, 2010-

The Riley Factor #70

The Riley Factor June 17, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 17 -- All is quiet on the Western Front, in Middle-of-Nowhere.  Much sun, a little rain, beautiful days.
Planting and Plowing -- Spring mowings of fields & trails done.  The hay experiment continues, with a first cutting scheduled for this afternoon.  (Making hay requires several steps and 3-4 consecutive days of zero rain.  First the cutting, then fluffing, called tedding, perhaps more tedding, then raking, and finally baling.  If the hay is baled when wet, mold occurs.  If baled before drying-out internally, the hay may spontaneously combust after sitting in the barn for a while.)

Riley -- Went missing for 15 minutes on Tuesday.  Found across Cherry Valley Road, near Lloyd Vanalstine's place -- bad idea to venture across NY Highway 163.  The golden boy will need some more discipline.

The Herd of Five -- Happy, healthy and wandering around the pasture.  Each still receiving good night kisses daily from Susan.

Fowl Weather -- The three senior turkeys are becoming more and more needy.  They love to be with their Queen, Her Majesty Susan, for daily discussions and petting.  The 75 new black Jersey Giant chicks are developing nicely.  The 16 French Guinea Hens (Keets) are barely a month old and are the size of pheasants.  Although their door has been left open daily recently, they have not yet ventured outside of the barn.  Twenty turkey chicks to be shipped next week.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Ephraim Blank will be in the house next week, helping with the haying and cutting some firewood, along with doing a bit of welding.

Quote of the Week -- "Without imperfection, neither you or I would exist." -- Stephen Hawking

The Riley Factor #69

The Riley Factor June 13, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 13 --
Planting and Plowing -- Approaching the end of planting -- Australian Butter squash, rosa blanca eggplants, butternut squash, some herbs and another 50 tobacco plants went into the ground over the weekend.  The potatoes planted last week are all bursting up onto the scene, along with the navy beans.

Riley -- The Golden Boy's newest favorite activity of the day is playing with the steers.  The Herd of Five is frequently now a herd of six as Riley endeavors to get into the head-butting game.  So far, his quickness makes up for his giving-up 100 to 500 pounds to his combatants.  Although, he may be one hind leg kick away from becoming an astronaut.

The Herd of Five -- Zeke (the youngest, born February 13, about 150-200 pounds now) suffered some sort of war wound on Saturday, bleeding from his right rump from a piercing of sorts.  A bit of colloidal silver from Dr. Susan and an order of stall-rest and the patient was cured.

Fowl Weather -- One of the senior turkeys (the one that spent a night missing last week) has adopted the role of perimeter warden.  Dawn to dusk, alone, she patrols the street front, yard and barn yard, and assumes her post in the front of the barn, right at the door, squawking an alarm whenever some large being or chicken is present.  Susan corals her to move her occasionally, but when she stubbornly refuses to move she will sit down and stay fixed (the turkey, not Susan).  A bit of a mystery.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Deer Sighting Season erupted with energy and quantities.  We saw five deer Saturday afternoon and evening, all does, one at a time each at five different points here and there.

Tales from Freysbush Garage -- What could be a better story than spending 18 years building an airplane in the second story of a building with no external doors, stairs or ramps leading to that floor?  How about building a submarine and sailing (?) it down the Erie Canal from Fort Plain to Buffalo?  Credit (again) Leon Douglas with this amazing feat. Of course, no photos exist of the underwater voyage.  We won't even bother regaling you with the tale of his installing a V-8 engine in a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle -- pales by comparison.

Quote of the Week -- One of our favorites ... a classic ... "All man's troubles come from being unable to sit in a room alone and do nothing." ... Blaise Pascal, French mathematician and philosopher.

The Riley Factor #68

The Riley Factor June 10, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 10 --
Planting and Plowing --We are preparing for our first attempt at making hay.  No, really, that's what it is called when you spend the requisite three days mowing, drying, raking and baling the coveted livestock food.  Update to follow.

Riley's Antics -- High speed racing around and through large mud puddles is the favorite Golden activity of the week.

The Herd of Five -- Moo.  Much chest bumping and head banging -- their idea of fun.  Size doesn't appear to matter, as Zeke (150 pounds) gets into it with Gabe (600 pounds) and anyone (Michael, Raphael, Ari, each 450-500 pounds) in between.  Susan and her band of Amish sisters cleaned-out the entire barn Wednesday morning.  "Now it's so clean", commented Susan, "that the chickens and turkeys don't want to hang out in there any more.  They head for outside as soon as the doors are opened in the morning".

Fowl Weather -- The Keets are now flying, and running at high speed around their stall, and the barn when one escapes, which happens on a daily basis.  Only a little while before the next phase of this experiment arrives -- releasing them to roam freely around the place and wherever else they are inclined.  Separately, it turns out that the reason one of the three senior turkeys roams so widely is to lay her eggs out of the reach of the chickens, who peck them into scramblers, if given the opportunity.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods -- Recently, we had our closest encounter with a deer.  Chris took a shortcut on a little used trail while racing Susan and after making the turn back on to a main trail was 20 feet from a large doe, just standing there looking at her new favorite human.  After a few seconds of study, she trotted back into the brush.

Tales from Freysbush Garage -- Leon Douglas has run Freysbush Garage ever since he dropped out of the sixth grade over 50 years ago.  Cash only, and be ready to go to the auto parts store to buy whatever parts Leon needs to fix whatever you brought him to fix.  Recently, I have made the trip to Fisher's Auto Parts in Fort Plain to get brakes all-around and a horn for the Jeep, and a water pump and serpentine belt for the Xterra.  I could recognize about half of those items if they were laying on a table in front of me.  Leon is the local mechanic and a great guy, very talkative whenever we are there for something or other.  Freysbush Garage is halfway between our place and Downtown Fort Plain (remember, don't blink), about three miles away, on the corner of Cherry Valley Road and Nestle Road.  The business is located in a green and black two-story building, formerly a house, covered in asphalt shingles that were applied back just after asphalt was invented.  Leon lives about 200 yards down Nestle Road and walks to and from work twice each day, including the trip home for lunch with his wife. The Garage has no employees, other than Leon, although there is a helper there some days, who provides conversation for Leon -- unclear what else the helper actually does.  Leon stories abound.  The tale of Leon's installation of his car lift 18 years ago is a good one -- which involved a couple of neighbors, three tractors, and several days of digging and cursing.  One of my favorite Leon stories is about the airplane he once built.on the second story of the building.  A full-size two-seater with plush deep button leather seats, polished wooden dash and beautiful crimson paint job.  He spent 18 years on the project.  When it was done, it sat fully assembled on the second floor of a building with no external doors, ramps or stairs.  Once the plane was on the ground at some landing strip (still a mystery or two there) he flew it once and sold is for $36,000.  Next time's story >>> the submarine.

Quote of the Week -- "Am I the only  guy in this country who's fed up with  what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage  with this so called president? We should be  screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of tax  cheating, clueless leftists trying to steer our  ship of state right over a cliff, we've got  corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we  can't even run a ridiculous cash-for-clunkers  program without losing $26 billion of the  taxpayers' money, much less build a hybrid car.  But instead of getting mad, everyone sits  around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Trust me the economy is  getting better." -- Lee Iococca, in his new book, Where have All the Leaders Gone?

The Riley Factor #67

The Riley Factor June 6, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 6 -- Planting and Plowing -- The planting and plowing is done for this spring.  In the fields are an acre each of barley, oats, buckwheat and rye, each destined mostly for animnal feed, but some for baking flour.  Also from last fall are four acres of hard red winter wheat and an acre of semolina (soft white wheat).  There are also 20 rows of corn and 13 rows of soybeans in field no. 1.  And  around the greenhouse in the garden are 100 tomatoes, 200 hills of potatoes (Yukon Gold, Red Cloud, Swedish Peanut Fingerlings and Russian Banana), 75 peppers (various types), 75 cucumbers, various herbs.  In the raised beds are lettuce, sweet potatoes, green beans, navy beans, broccoli, cabbage, onions, and some other stuff.  Still growing in the greenhouse are the two lemon trees, two lime trees, two olive trees, lufa gourds, some watermelons, a few cucumber and some other long forgotten and unlabeled stuff.

Riley's Antics -- Riley sustained a minor abrasion Thursday, while riding in the back of the Ute -- trail brush whacked him in that long Golden Retriever snout.  He took it like a man/dog, with no whimpering as the golden blood dripped from his noggin.  On Sunday, he found some sort of egg somewhere -- looked like it might be a turkey egg -- and he carried it round for an hour or two before succumbing to dog hunger and eating it raw.   Yum.  (Or yuk).  At 100 pounds more or less, the nine-month old still thinks he is a lap dog.  Can you say "ouch"?

The Herd of Five -- The Fearsome Fivesome have become less cooperative lately at dinnertime, requiring a rodeo round-up of sorts (which they seem to thoroughly enjoy) to get them back into the barn.  Susan normally mounts an ATV, as the herd runs for the other side of Rock Creek, and chases them around the pasture a bit before they eventually make it to and through the barn door.

Fowl Weather -- The newest shipment of 20 Jersey Giant Chicken chicks (which should have been Narragansett Turkey chicks) are becoming accustomed to their new surroundings, although it's tough to tell a complaining 'peep' from a 'we love this, you people rock' peep.  Although one newbie was overheard saying, "This Fort Plain place is much better than our last flea bag of a chicken coop -- now we're living the turkey life, in style.  Hope that the humans don't find out that we're chickens, not turkeys."  Brownie, the newly-coined name for the senior turkey that spent an unauthorized night away from the farm last week, has taken to wide wandering during the days.  Her two sisters spend the days calling and searching for her, but it usually takes a Susan Search to locate the happy wanderer.  Saturday, two cars beep-beeped her out of the middle of Cherry Valley Road, after which we had to go get her and turn her around from what looked like the beginning of a stroll to the Village of Ames.

Mowings, Musings and The Woods-- Friday morning, we cut down 25 poplar trees in the woods next to the north trail by the fourth field.  Left to lie in the summer sun, they'll be good fire wood by this fall.  We have started seeing deer most days while out riding the trails.  So far, all doe, with perhaps a fawn or two.  And with the May 31 end to turkey hunting season, we have started seeing more wild turkeys running around the fields. And finally, there is no truth to the rumor, well maybe a little truth, well might be sort of indicative of what might have happened, if it ever did happen, of which there is no proof, well no remaining proof, and no witnesses, and no driver admission, that Chris crashed one of the tractors through the fence again.  A 'not guilty' plea was entered for the defendant.

The Riley Factor #66

The Riley Factor June 3, 2010
(All the Rock Creek Farm news that's fit to print, along with unfit to print rumors, prognostications & bloviations.)

FORT PLAIN NY, June 3 --

Planting and Plowing -- Mowing continued throughout the week in the trails and fields.  With 13 straight days of sun, 80-90 degree temps and no rain, everything was dry as dust before Tuesday's rain.  Wednesday was perfect for planting and Susan and the Amish trio (Annie, Barb and Lizzie) transplanted about 100 tomato plants and 100 peppers from the greenhouse into the garden, along with some herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, etc,) and other veggies.

Riley's Antics -- Riley has taken to following Chris around when they are both outside during the day, around the yard and barns.  Riley always manages to get close enough to the pond for a splash and swim -- those webbed feet still work like canoe paddles for him.  He frequently stops and sits in two-feet-deep water with only eyes and top of head showing -- must be his alligator impression.  Not very menacing.

The Herd of Five -- Definitely insiders when the temps are above 75, venturing into the pasture only in late afternoon and evening.  No more nighttime escapes to report.  When we are in the pasture, we now have to take vehicle keys with us, as Gabe and Eli have taken to removing the keys from the ignitions and leaving them dropped hide-and-seek fashion in the grass (so far, nearby).

Fowl Weatherr -- On Monday, the tall white pole pine in the pasture contributed 14 more fallen limbs, and roosts were made for the Keets and the Jersey Giant chicks.  All are now happily roosting in their respective stalls in the barn, their coops, and able to sit at their chosen height in order to regulate their body temperature.  Prior to the installation of their new furniture, the new chicks had been running and jumping around like little maniacs, trying to get closer to the sky.  Now, they are at peace.  However, all the Keets and Jersey chicks have created one method or another of escaping their coops.  We routinely find a few strolling the main aisle in the barn.  The Keets are a tightly wound bunch, keeping within a half inch of each other whenever humans are in the vicinity.  The Jerseys run for their lives whenever we get within 10 feet of them -- 50 tiny black dots scrambling in all directions while peeping their heads off.  Actually, they look like very tiny penguins, being played at 78 when they are really a 33 LP.  (At least half of The Riley Factor readership has no idea to what that refers).  Wednesday night, one of the turkeys went out on an unauthorized overnight stroll -- went missing about 7PM and our evening search was fruitless.  But from the world of happy endings, as we left the barn at about 8AM Thursday, the missing link was running happily toward us across the back yard, soaking wet and completely mud covered -- no longer a bright white Domestic American Turkey, but looking more like she was camouflaged returning from a week-long sniper mission in the jungles of Southeast Asia.  And lastly, a peeping box with air holes in it arrived from the Post Office on Thursday morning, filled with 20 Narragansett Turkey chicks -- another 20 birds all to behave well but act very nervously around the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays.

Mowings and Musings -- Susan spent Tuesday afternoon re-landscaping the side of the main barn -- bucket loader and tractor under saddle.  Looks great -- no one would ever suspect the septic tank exploded a month ago.  But, Wednesday morning, two chickens were seen teaching two turkeys how to dig nests in the just seeded earth -- what's the deal with that?  New sighting -- while rolling around the place on Tuesday evening's ATV run, we came across a 10-12 inch snapping turtle in the road above the fourth field.  He looked happy enough, but we stayed outside of snapping distance.  10 and 10 each, OK, moving on.